Over the course of the past couple of months, we have shared a variety of exercises that can be modified using an exercise/stability ball. Almost any exercise can be made more difficult using the ball; the balance required of your body to stabilize while completing an exercise adds that much more difficulty to any movement.
Although there are many more exercises that can be completed with the ball, in the interest of mixing things up a bit, this will be the final in our series. If you have any exercises that you would like to share, please let us know!
To complete push ups using an exercise ball:
- Lie with your belly on the ball and walk your hands forward until the ball rests under your legs.
- Make sure that your hands are directly below your shoulders on the floor.
- Inhale as you lower toward the floor with the upper body, bending your elbows out to the side.
- Remember to keep your abdominal muscles tight to help you maintain your balance.
- Straighten your elbows and exhale as you press back up into starting position.
- Keep your back straight and in line with your head and the rest of your body. Complete ten repetitions for one full set- work towards completing 2 or 3 sets and slowly add more repetitions to each set.
Please speak to your provider before starting any new exercise regimen.