Even people who are familiar with exercise and who strength train
regularly are surprised by the challenge of the ball workout. The
reason again is because a different set of muscles, not normally
used, is suddenly required to perform the exercise.
One of the reasons the ball has become so popular with
professional athletes and sports teams is the fantastic core
muscle workout it gives. The core muscles, also known as
postural muscles, include abdominal, mid and lower back
muscles. These muscles are associated with initiating movement,
and are integral in squatting, jumping, sitting, walking, and
reaching. Weak core muscles lead to poor posture and hence
lower back pain. Many people have found that using the ball to
strengthen core muscles also helps relieve chronic lower back
pain.
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