ball chair
 

I think this chair is very entincing. Those seats don't roll away like a plain ball does and look like they belong in an office environment as opposed to a gym. But when I checked with a PT I was told some reasons to stick with the ball. The arms aren't really useful. One can continue dong the Edgelow exercises while on a regular ball but not the chair. Doing these exercises occasionally while sitting can extend the time of sitting. Active sitting is strengthening. I just saw a new option. It is a ball made now with a bag of sand inside that makes it so the ball won't roll away. It is made of a very thick material with a matte finish. I was told the one I tried was purchased at Target and comes in several sizes. I haven't yet looked for it myself.

towelhorse- how much pulmicort do you take? (if u don't mind me asking) i am curious is it different for adults and kids? my daughter takes a 0.5 respule one time a day when healthy, twice when sick.

i just tried sitting on my exercise ball- since my feldenkrais lessons are all about how we should never be sitting statically- always moving a bit is better, work on core muscles and proper movement of them to strengthen core, etc. I think the ball "stand" might take away the benefit of the ball in that you are always working and changing your position a bit....

however, i also have the problem of a wooden chair being too hard- the ball is much softer. that benefit would stay even with the ball stand.

positions
 

Hi, In my last five years I have found that I can't adjust my posture PT kills me and makes me much worse and causes more pain. Yoga is the best way i can change the positioning I am in.....saying that I am having to get up and change positions when I get sore.,..20mins...up and move so that I can sit down again for another 20 mins....up to move again...is better for you to change your position. I defiantly think that posture is key, but my position is such that I have to just change position..... take care, love and hugs, Victoria

Johanna, you're right on that the stand isn't nearly as helpful as the ball alone...I just need the stand because without it, my lower spine hurts even worse! But yeah, my PT and others have said just to sit on a ball that's the correct height, building up the minutes each day, and it will help w/core strengthening. That's prob. the way to go...

Melissa

Another option to consider. There is somthing that looks like an inflatible frisbee or dish, a squashed ball of sorts filled with about 1.5 inches of air that you goes between the chair and sitter. It also allows for that "active" sort of sitting. I don't like it myself but some do. It can be purchased where one would get PT stuff.

oh yeah, i know what you are talking about...stability disk..

that is an interesting idea. I'll have to think on it a bit.

sitting (how can it cause the symptoms to be worse?)
 

Hi Johannakat and VixSpareBitz,
in answer to your questions and comments. I use the pulmicort in a turbohaler, the dosage is 400ug, I use it twice a day. My views about TOS and what causes it are from left field, but then I contend that the common view used to be that the Earth was flat. I am of the opinion that the experts are mixing up symptoms and causes. They believe that TOS causes muscle imbalances in the shoulder girdle, I believe that scapular instability causes TOS (pec minor syndrome). They believe that bad posture causes TOS, I believe that head forward posture is to lessen “normal” but what becomes significant (double crush) pressure on the brachial plexus. They believe that chest breathing can be addressed by re-educating the chest breather, myself and others believe that changes in breathing patterns are caused by pressure on the sympathetic nervous system (at T2) or medication (anti-inflammatories), they believe that the wry neck (whiplash symptoms) cause scarring to the brachial plexus when the scalenes are in spasm, I believe that the wry neck causes the scalenus medius to compromise the nerve (LTN) that innervates the serratus anterior thereby causing scapular instability and therefore pectoralis minor syndrome. They believe that exercise which improves core stability will improve the TOS sufferers situation, I believe that anything which causes me to pull my stomach in, (transversus abdominus retraining) will increase the pressure on my diaphragm and therefore change my breathing pattern, causing my ribs to put further pressure on that nerve which when compromised causes further scapular instability. They believe that shoulder girdle strengthening exercises will improve posture and therefore improve the space through the thoracic outlet ( inlet?). I believe that these exercises further compromise that nerve (LTN).

I used and then purchased one of the large round balls that you sit on, my understanding is that there primary use it to strengthen the core stabilizing muscles. The ergo chair which I use nearly all the time is significantly different, it is not a ball, it allows me to sit in a way that does not increase the pressure on my diaphragm because my knees are much lower than on a normal chair. All of the strategies which have improved my condition have related to the relationship between my ribcage and the nerve (Long Thoracic Nerve). Chest breathing, laying on my back, holding my arm out in front of my body, sitting and combinations of all of these made my symptoms worse. The medical system seeks to treat the body’s postural reaction to neural compromise rather than the compromise itself. The consequence is a worsening of symptoms, the medical system does not react well to being wrong, it looks for other explanations such as psychological or pecuniary reasons, the system therefore can rest easily, it isn’t wrong, it is the patient who is at fault.

Regards towelhorse

I just bought my self a papazon i think thats what it is called any way it is circular and sets on a small base and i am not sure if it is made from wicker or bamboo. Any way this is the best chair i have ever owned my arms dont hurt setting in it because there are no arms to lean on. That seem to be my problem with other chairs no matter how hard i tried to i kept leaning on them and causing more pain to my arms and hands. I also use a lap top so i just curl up in the chair and put it in my lap to type and it seems to be just at the right hight that it doesnt bother me so much as if i where to sit a a desk or in a regular chair. Any way i bought the chair at the wicker imperium.