Stress balls are one of the new breeds of physical fitness items that have been on the medical stage for several years. They have been used by the military in training their members as well as aiding in the rehabilitation of stroke and heart attack patients. More recently, they have gained popularity as a tool for physical therapy at home. The main advantages of stress balls are that they are cheap and easy to obtain, and they can be used in a variety of exercise routines without the risk of injury.
So What Exactly Are Stress Balls?
The best stress balls are small soft latex balls, typically not more than 7 centimetres in diameter. Their primary purpose is to be squeezed to relieve muscle tension and stress. When squeezed, the ball contracts and the blood pressure in the palm of your hand is reduced. It releases the pressure on the blood vessels surrounding your hand and fingers, which in turn reduces the blood pressure of that part of the body. A clinical study found that when patients squeezed the stress balls just before and after a cardiac rehabilitation program, there was a significant decrease in blood pressure. This was seen as early as the first session! Even though this is good news for anyone who needs to take their blood pressure at least a little bit lower to improve their overall health, there is still more research to be done to find out how much of this type of intervention is truly effective.
What We Know So Far
Stress balls are great at relieving tension in your muscles and reducing your anxiety, but many people claim they can also help you get a better night’s sleep. Studies have shown that by squeezing a ball during the day and before bed you will actually be able to sleep better. This seems to be because when you’re stressed out, your body generates a whole slew of negative energy that you carry around with you all day. You’ll feel tired and probably experience more insomnia than you normally would. So when you wake up in the morning and apply the tension relief provided by these balls to your muscles, it helps you sleep better and get a better night of rest.
Why Use Stress Balls?
All in all, stress balls are a very simple way to provide some temporary relief from your daily tension. They don’t require a lot of work on your part and are extremely easy to carry around. Their simplicity is one of their best qualities. If you can find a way to use them to relieve stress, you will be doing yourself a favour. Simply place your finger or thumb on the ball, squeeze to release a small amount of pressure. Do this constantly in a certain patter, and soon enough, you will notice a change in your stress levels. What makes this product so good is that it doesn’t require you to do anything that is too physically demanding.
