Gymnastic balls, the so-called Swedish balls or fitness balls, are big balls filled with air. They are widely used in fitness industry for athletic training and rehabilitation though initially they were meant for newborns. These multi-coloured balls may be either plastic or rubber. Their wide popularity among fitness enthusiasts is explained by several factors. First of all, they are not expensive and widely available. Secondly, they may be successfully applied for training of almost all groups of muscles.

Exercises with the gymnastic ball help not only to tone up and strengthen your muscles, but develop your coordination, since you have to balance on the ball, while doing your routines.

Workout with gymnastic ball may help to train your core muscles that refer to ab area, back extensors and hips. These areas should be well trained, since their good condition may prevent or on the contrary, bad condition may cause severe pain in your back, as they maintain your back in right condition.

Number of exercises, where you may use Swedish ball is huge. There are exercises for beginners and advanced fitness enthusiasts. You may sit or lie on the ball while performing your routine. Balancing on the ball will involve your core muscles in addition to the muscles that work during the certain exercise. While training your upper body, for example, you will get your ab zone and hip muscles work in order to remain on the ball. Such an effect can not be reached while performing exercises on the floor or other firm surface. Consequently, while training various groups of muscles on the ball you simultaneously get trained the muscles that provide support to your back and thus gain more positive result from your training.

A wide variety of well-known exercises may be done on the fit-ball. Crunches on gymnastic ball proved to be more effective, than those performed on the floor. Fit ball involves a wide range of stabilizers that are not trained during ordinary workover. Besides, the ball gives an opportunity to increase the amplitude while performing the exercise and thus make the exercise more difficult to perform.

A lot of instructors also offer to use gymnastic ball for doing push-ups. Just put your feet on the ball and set your hands against the floor. In this position you will be forced not only to do push-ups, but to balance as well. Consequently, upper and lower back muscles, abdominal muscles will be trained, as well as your arms.

Gymnastic balls may be used for a wide variety of exercises to make you train more efficiently. The workout becomes more affective since the core muscles are trained as well, while they remain not involved during the ordinary training.

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