An invention that benefited sick children 40 years ago is an increasinglypopular way to work out, writes Patricia Weston
Remember Space Hoppers, those big bouncy orange balls? Now you can relive the experience by hopping on a Swiss ball, an increasingly popular way of working out at home or in the gym.
Like Space Hoppers, Swiss balls - also known as stability balls or physioballs - are rubber and inflatable, but without the handles or the smiling face. Swiss balls are used to tone, flex and strengthen muscles and can even help alleviate back pain.
Physical therapists first used this type of exercise ball during the 1960s, to help children with cerebral palsy in Switzerland - hence the name. Now the Swiss ball is seen as ideal for exercising the core muscles of the body.
"Core" is the newest buzzword in the fitness industry. It describes the deep muscles in the back, abdomen, buttocks and thighs. The body's response to the ball's natural instability encourages the core muscles to come into play, so strengthening them. A strong core can improve posture and balance and lessen the risk of injury, so preventing back pain.
"The Swiss ball is very popular among our members. It's similar to Pilates in that it trains the core muscle groups," says Sarah Good, manager of Westwood gym in Leopardstown, Co Dublin. Pilates is a gentle form of exercise that trains the core muscles, exercising them in a slow and concentrated manner.
Doing exercises on the Swiss ball can be much more beneficial than doing them on the floor, because the ball allows for a greater range of movement. Doing abdominal crunches on the ball, for example, not only supports the lower back but also allows you to do the exercise while you are stretched out, making it more effective.
Aifric Morrissey, a charted physiotherapist, uses the Swiss ball with her patients. She recommends that they exercise with the ball to help strengthen their core muscles.
"Used for rehabilitation it can prevent injuries, because the deep stability muscles control body alignment," she says. "If the core is weak you can cause shearing or friction of the vertebrae, and every movement takes place outside the core frame. If this is weak you can have problems such as back pain."
The Swiss ball is effective for people of all ages and levels, whether beginners or advanced exercisers. It can increase flexibility and tone muscles without requiring the user to be flexible in the first place.
"The classes at Westwood are very mixed; it's a workout suitable for people of all ages," says Good.
You can also use Swiss balls at home. Branches of Lifestyle sports shops sell a version for about €15, for example. The sports section of Clerys department store in Dublin has one for about €25, while Arnotts has a version for €32. Champion sports shops charge about €40 for their Swiss balls.
The balls come with instructions and examples of exercises, and vary in size to suit your height.