Stability Ball as desk chair

[Melalvai]

I don't have neck issues but when I started using my ball for a chair, I used it for an hour a day, then two hours a day. Even now, when I've been using it for a year, it's just my morning chair. I could use it all day, but I like having my morning chair and my afternoon chair.

[malkin]

Just try it, and if it doesn't work, try something else.

[OakLeaf]

I haven't used one, but it seems to me that neck issues have more to do with where your desk is in relation to your face, than what your lumbar spine is doing. (Not that the spine isn't all connected, obviously.)

I used a kneeling chair for years and really liked it. But I think what might be the first line of attack for neck problems is to put your monitor up on a hutch or whatever so it's at eye level - if your main computer is a laptop, get a separate keyboard for it. If you're on the phone a lot at work and/or frequently turning away from your computer screen, try to turn your chair so that you're not holding your head to the side all the time (btdt).

[indysteel]

In addition to Oak's suggestion, I think you need to be mindful of your neck posture when you are seated. The tendency is to hold you head too far forward. Ideally, your ears should be balanced directly above your shoulders. Of course there are other aspects of seated posture and alignment that you should be mindful of, too. I would encourage you to start there before trying a stability ball. Some of what I have read about that suggests that people with existing injuries should not use a stability bar.

[malkin]

If you are straining your neck by moving your head forward when you sit at a desk, it could be a vision issue. The right correction could help.

[Catrin]

Thanks for all of the advice, I will examine my posture more closely. I DID have both of my monitors on a riser - I require two large landscape monitors in my work. The riser was perfect, or WOULD have been if I didn't have no-line bifocals. Being a short woman, when the rest of my body is in the proper ergonomic position my head is tilted backwards so I can actually see my monitors when they are on the risers. If I didn't have glasses it would be perfect.

While it doesn't help that I need new glasses, which are coming in January, removing the risers has had the effect of allowing me to view the monitors properly. No tipping my head backwards so I don't have to use the "long distance" portion of my glasses...which doesn't really work well. What would be ideal is a second pair of single vision glasses for work that is only for that distance......hmmmm.... that isn't a bad idea actually. Perhaps in the long term I might do that.

Tomorrow I will pay close attention to my head and neck position, and the spasms have been better since I dumped the riser last week. It didn't help today that I've been trying to go without the muscle relaxers and I just can't do that right now.

Thanks again, I appreciate it!

[snapdragen]

Any chance you can afford a pair of computer use only glasses? I have reading glasses, set up to the distance of my monitor (don't work for poop to actually read...) They are for work only.

[goride]

If you're on the phone a lot at work and/or frequently turning away from your computer screen, try to turn your chair so that you're not holding your head to the side all the time.

This made me think (if you are not already doing so) it might be more comfortable to use a headset than a traditional office phone so that you are not tempted to scrunch it between your ear and your shoulder.

Unfortunately, I have no experience with a stability ball as an office chair. It is something I wanted to explore, but I worked for a large corporation and our ergonomics/safety group would not allow this as they were concerned about employees falling off the ball resulting in an on-the-job accident .