The multi use exercise bench that builds muscle
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IMPROVE BALANCE
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LIGHTWEIGHT AND PORTABLE
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USE AS A HOME EXERCISE BENCH
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INSTABILITY ENGAGES CORE MUSCLES
Build your core without a second thought
Exercise balls, also known as "Swiss balls" are a great addition to your home gym equipment. Not only are they great for pilates exercises and injury rehabilitation, but even sitting on one instead of using a chair will help build your core muscles which are used due to the unstable nature of the ball. This helps improve balance and posture.
Any exercise you can think of can be made more challenging with the addition of an exercise ball. Stabilising muscles are used when doing exercises such as crunches and push ups with feet raised in an elevated position. Instead of using a bulky and heavy weight bench, why not do your chest or shoulder presses on a Swiss ball? Your bench has now became a workout in of itself!
Although originally intended for physical therapy, exercise balls are universally incorporated into both alternative training such as pilates and yoga, as well as common fitness routines for athletic training.
Instability - increased strength and mobility
The main focus when using exercise balls is placed on the back and abdominal muscles, known as your "core body muscles". Instead of exercising on a stable, flat surface, the instability forces the body to engage these muscles to remain balanced at all times, which in turn creates strength over time.
Using an unstable surface recruits more muscle units without increasing the total load. The greatest benefit of moving an exercise onto an unstable surface is achieving a greater activation of the core musculature. An unstable surface increases activation of the rectus muscles and allows for greater activity per exercise when compared to a stable surface. Exercises such as a curl-up on an exercise ball yields a greater amount of electromyographic activity (electrical activity produced by muscles) compared to exercises on a stable platform. Performing standard exercises, such as a push-up, on an unstable surface can be used to increase activation of core trunk stabilisers and in turn provide increased trunk strength and greater resistance to injury.