Balimo Chairs

[mg]

Are they worth the money? I did a forum search but couldn't find any real specific information about their benefits. I think they look interesting, but I don't really know if the price tag is worth "interesting." Some people in our dressage club REALLY want to purchase one. Is it just a hype and are there other devices (ie exercise balls) which could help just as much?

Thanks!

[Guyot]

You can use a pilates ball to do some of the same stuff. But a bunch of people at the barn got together and bought one for the barn. So we can all use it before we ride. :D

We did get to use it prior to buying so we knew what it felt like and that we really got use out of it. I use it a couple of times a week, but not every day. I use it specifically if I have a lesson, helps me loosen up without riding a horse first...so I feel as if I'm on my second or third horse of the day, but am still fresh riding the first. I think this gives me an advantage in my lesson. Will try it at the horse shows too!! ;)

[boosma47]

The Balimo has been really beneficial to my adult students in mobilizing their core muscles.
I sometimes use my chair as my office chair!

Well worth the $$, IMHO

[Blkarab]

I have used one before and didn't really see much more benefit over my bosu ball.

My PT has some fabulous exercises that I do at home before I ride, and since they only require a mat and wall, are totally free and I receive the same benefit.

[Rhiannonjk]

I've been pondering this same question, and am getting ready to blow back up my balance ball (after a move) and really decide if there is a difference. I think there is. Maybe not a $200 difference...

The thing that I was just thinking this morning, is that on a balimo chair, you can put your legs where they would be on a horse, which you can't really do on a giant ball. The barn I just moved from had a balimo chair for all to use, and it was great to work on the canter transtions, moving your legs to the right position, and practicing the seat movements.

The Balimo gives you a specific limit to your movement in all directions, which you don't get from a ball.

I don't think it is worthwhile for one person to own one for themself, but I think if you can pool together money from several people, it may be worthwhile.

[CapitolDesign]

My boss/trainer is a certified Balimo instructor, so I am a little biased....

But, I have found that the most beneficial exercises that I do on the chair would be impossible on a ball (ie, feeling my seatbones evenly as I rock forward/back/side/side and being aware of whether or not I am collapsing because the chair will tip at the slightest imbalance).

I definitely agree with previous post, that if you can have a few people chip in at the barn it is easy to share and doesn't seem as expensive. (Some of our clients share one).

Side note: Have you considered getting a Balimo instructor in your area come out to show you exercises on a chair vs a ball? I am sure they have been asked this same question millions of times.

[lostislandfarm]

After auditing a balimo clinic with Alison End (certified core instructor) I decided to host a clinic with her. She's been back several times since.
We all chipped in for a chair for the barn and that chair made a big difference in every rider. One of my students bought one as an office chair as well and her body allignment and riding improved dramatically. She did not achieve the same results with the exercise ball nor with yoga. IMO the chair is well worth the money. But I do recommend to work with a certified core instructor first so he/she can show you how to use that chair "to it's full potential".

[ise@ssl]

I've had the Balimo chair for years and also have the Swedish ball. They are not the same. The chair does help to work the hip flexor muscles much more and works some areas that the ball does not. We keep our Balimo chair by the lap top desk in the house and now my husband even comments that it's helping him with is tight hips as well. I think it's really worth the money.

[tollertwins]

They are also good to help loosen up a sore back....

[AndalusianMom]

This weekend our barn had our third Balimo clinic by Nancy Wilson, a certified instructor out of Ohio. I was so impressed after the first, that I got my own Balimo chair. I have found it to be a tremendous help to my seat---something lessons couldn't help me with. I'm 57 and not as flexible as I used to be, and my stiff hips and lower back were compromising my seat. The chair (and some of the non-chair exercises) have really transformed my seat by loosening the stiff joints and making me more symmetrical.
I use mine while watching TV.
Well, well worth it for me. :yes:

[medical mike]

I'm biased as I need science......
Until there is some data to show it creates a more "lifelike" activation of the torso muscles than what you can get with an exercise ball, I'm buying the appropriate sized exercise balls.

Regards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us or .com

[pintopiaffe]

My boss will not allow a ball, even though I have an Rx from the Dr. for it. I suspect I could get away with a Balimo.

Could you sit on it for a whole shift or most of one? (I CAN sit on a ball, pain free, for about 8 of my 10 hrs.)

The slight movement you always have with a ball is what keeps my back from hurting (compressed disks) but also the fact that I am straddling it somewhat.

I don't know what else to do. I don't know how to fight it that my boss won't allow a 9.99 ball which solves my pain issue. HIS issue is that it's a ball. :sigh: He pretends to be concerned I'll fall off it and it's a liability issue, his real issue is he's military and it's a freaking ball. :cry:

[yaya]

Your boss wouldn't let you use one of those balls with the chair base? (It'd be more than 9.99, though)

The Balimo chair is basically a lightly-padded milking stool with a swivel under the seat. Depends on how long you can sit on a stool as to whether you could use it for an entire shift. (maybe add another pillow on top?)

[ise@ssl]

I think you would be able to use the Balimo at work - you'd just have to get used to it in the beginning. I honestly don't find it a challenge to sit on for long periods of time as long as my feet and legs are positioned correctly - which does in fact put less stress on my lower back.

[Ambrey]

I don't know what else to do. I don't know how to fight it that my boss won't allow a 9.99 ball which solves my pain issue. HIS issue is that it's a ball. :sigh: He pretends to be concerned I'll fall off it and it's a liability issue, his real issue is he's military and it's a freaking ball. :cry:

Talk to HR about it, since you have a prescription. I agree, try one of the chair bases? If you have pain issues, your office should buy one for you!

[medical mike]

There are plenty of offices where folks use them as chairs. If you can get to a college library, you can search pubmed or science direct.com and find references for there medical use.

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us or .com

[SaddleFitterVA]

I would never even ASK if I could bring my ball. I simply sit on it.

And I work with lots and lots of former military and some active reservists. If you don't point it out, it takes a lot of people a while to notice.

Although, when I had no workspace and rolled it out to the hallway kiosks, it got a lot of attention.

Many of the guys want to try it.

I've been sitting on the same blue ball since 1999. I just delfate it and move it in a box.

I did have one boss who did deflate it at night, and the normal guy thing is to come up behind me and kick the ball.

So, you must have a sense of humor to sit on the ball.

I have thought about a Balimo chair too though. MD has one that I tried, maybe I can borrow it for a week or two to see if I like it enough to buy one.

[pintopiaffe]

There are plenty of offices where folks use them as chairs. If you can get to a college library, you can search pubmed or science direct.com and find references for there medical use.

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us (http://www.fitfocusedforward.us) or .com

Sorry... not to hijack further... but I brought the PubMed docs along with the Rx. He refuses. Completely freaked when I brought it in. Got me a sit disk, which just isn't the same. :(

We do not have HR. And we are exempt from all OSHA standards. (public safety 'essential personell' ) We don't even have to get breaks during our 10 hrs if it's too busy. (of course we can/do if it's not, but no requirement for it, and it's pretty much frowned upon and seen as not being a team player if you do take them.)

[DawnJensen]

The difference between a Balimo Chair and a ball is that the chair allows your pelvis to come to 'neutral' where it is directly balanced underneath your 'straightened' spinal column. That isn't possible with a ball, which only allows you to 'sit'.

Regarding using the chair in an office setting - I know many who do, but you have to work up to using it for long periods of time.

[medical mike]

If you have an RX from a physician and your boss refuses to honor his script...

Well, I'd ask an opinion from any of the physicians on the BB, but I think your boss would be in a precarious legal position NOT honoring it.

and just because...

Quote:
"The difference between a Balimo Chair and a ball is that the chair allows your pelvis to come to 'neutral' where it is directly balanced underneath your 'straightened' spinal column. That isn't possible with a ball, which only allows you to 'sit'."

You've crossed your thoughts. Neutral references the spine, rotation references the pelvis and "straightened" can refer to several postures,. In any case, finding neutral it is an active task... surface does not matter.

REgards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us or .com

[DawnJensen]

I don't see how my thoughts have crossed. Your spine can only be 'straightened' in reference to being balanced in it's natural double 'S' curve, and that can only happen when the pelvis is placed neutrally underneath it, not when it is tipped either forward or backward when sitting. It is not possible on the big balls to have the pelvis competely neutral, it is possible on the Balimo chair. This position most closely mimics your position in the saddle and allows you to explore all the possible movements available to the pelvis, which again, isn't possible when sitting on the balance ball because your pelvis can't ever go to neutral.


Have you ever used a Balimo chair, medical mike?? Or seen one in use??

[medical mike]

regarding usefulness of the ball. Look at the work by Richardson, Jull, Wolfe, McGill and others from sports medicine.

Always good to challenge ones opinion for proof...

Quote:
"Have you ever used a Balimo chair, medical mike?? Or seen one in use??"

Fair enough...nope, however I've sat on plenty of single peg, adjustable height stools in my day.
I figure if the chairs were all that, someone would have done the EMG research, like they have with the balls, to show they were all that. No one has, so IMO, its not.

Come to the Charles Owen tent at Rolex, we can talk more.

Regards,
Medical Mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocusedforward.us or .com

[MontanaDun]

Jaime -

I would think you would be able to sit on the Balimo all day. They do recommend that you start slowly and build up the time in the saddle to avoid muscle soreness. If you do get one and bring it to the office, you may need to do something so that folks don't sit on it unawares - it can surely "buck" the rider off! And that might be a liability issue - at least with a ball folks can see that it's ... a ball.

I really do like mine. I will swap back and forth between the Balimo and my office chair (at my home office). I wish I had brought it in to work today because I did something to my hip riding yesterday and I could sure use a Balimo fix right now! Getting out of my chair is SLOW going! LOL

MedicalMike - I have used the Balimo and the exercise balls. I like the Balimo a little better, but think that both are useful.

MD

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Not to hijack, but what do you feel are the best exercises for the Balimo chair?

[canyonoak]

well...Ive used/worked with balance balls and Balimo chair/stool (I thought it was called a stool ???) and Ive sat on other such purpose-created equipment, like the Gaiam Balance Ball Chair
http://www.outlettrail.com/store/product.php?productid=7051

and Ive ridden a fair amount of horses over the years<g>...

...and I think it may come down to WHY one wants to use the equipment.
The Balimo is very good to teach someone to 'stack' their head and spine over the pelvis, and allows for a practitioner to put hands-on to help guide the body and create new 'muscle memory'.
The Balimo is also useful to isolate the pelvis, the hips, and create a range of motion.

The balance balls are good for better simulation of how the horse feels under the rider, and definitely better for how to use thighs and hips to create direction as well as balance.

All the equipment is rather like learning to drive a car in an empty parking lot--a necessary step for most people who do not grow up on a farm or whatever, where as soon as their feet reach the pedals, they have to drive equipment from one spot to the next. (ie, horse world where children are thrown on to ponies/horses and sort of figure out the rudiments).

Eventually, the car must be driven in the real world--other cars, bad drivers, lights, pedestrians,etc etc.

Same with the horses in the real world-- motion plus other brain plus reaction to outside stimuli plus power plus speed etc etc etc.

What can really be fun is to have someone use the equipment and then yell commands at them and see how quickjly they can react. Still not the same as the horse's own reactions, but better than nothing.

LOL

[flamenco horse]

For those who can't afford $300, these little gems will save you $272 and do basically the same thing. Same concept just a heck of a lot cheaper and completely portable!

http://exertools.stores.yahoo.net/dynadisc.html

[medical mike]

It depends on results of testing. In this case we are talking about torso control.......
If the torso motion is driven from the lower extremity, then I teach how to increase toe pressure to stabilize the foot/lower extremity, then teach how to isolate torso motion from the hip to head, driving the motion with the hip/abdominal muscles.
From there it is a simple progression to a figure eight of the pelvis without going into flexion.

If you want to increase hamstring strength, simplest is straight leg hip extension with foot on ball, then bent knee, then "ball leg curl".

Quad strength can be knee to chest from a push up position (feet on ball)

If there is a disconnect through the hip joint via the hamstrings (more common in females) then a reverse sit up, ball pinched between knees, feet fixed, torso maintained in neutral, would be appropriate.

REgards,
Medical mike
equestrian medical researcher
www.fitfocisedforward.us or .com

[Carol O]

I got to Medical Mike's site at fitfocusedforward.com . Very interesting site.

[pintopiaffe]

flamenco horse, I have a sit disk. It was my Boss's answer to disallowing the ball.

It does not work at ALL like the ball. :no:

I would be thrilled if it did the trick. But it doesn't. At least for me and my herniated disks. :cry:

Thanks MD, I will look into getting one. It's a hefty price, but I have to sit for 10 hours, sometimes with as little as two five minute breaks if it's nuts... it's worth the $$$ if it will keep me riding.