Strength is an important element of any healthy lifestyle. Whether you're an avid rock climber or an avid shopper, you need strength to perform all your daily activities. According to FitnessWorld, "Proper strength training has numerous benefits, including developing muscular strength and muscular endurance, increasing muscle mass, improving bone mineral density and increasing the level of strength in connective tissues." (1999)

As you age, maintaining your muscle mass is especially important. "You will lose one-half pound of muscle for each year you age past 20 if you do not incorporate some type of . . . strength training into your exercise routine." Physical.com, 1999) This means that by age 80, sedentary individuals can lose up to half their muscle mass. This loss of muscle mass will not only affect strength but it will also effect weight gain because "one extra pound of muscle will burn 50 more calories a day, just at rest." As such, strength training should be viewed as an essential part to any exercise routine. (Physical.com, 1999)

How does the FitBallŪ fit in with strength training? Simply put, the ball adds a challenge to many familiar strengthening exercises such as push-ups and sit-ups. Also, because of its dynamic nature, the ball adds an element of balance challenge to these exercises that increases their intensity.

We do not recommend using heavy weights and/or barbells to weight lift on the ball.

Basic strengthening routine on ball, Push-up, Sit-up on ball and on floor, Prone Flexion and Leg lift can be seen below.