| Translation
of article from Swiss journal Physical Education 6/94
Balls
Instead of Chairs in the Classroom
by Urs Illi, senior lecturer at the University of Basel,
Switzerland
The use
of sitting balls for sedentary occupations adds especially
in the school system opportunities for creating active instructional
environment. Considering the marked need of children and youth
for room to move and the opportunity to move, we can provide
the ideal stimulus for awareness of a dynamic sitting posture.
In addition, the sitting ball complements or rather replaces
the conventional schoolroom furniture from an alternative
and physiological perspective.
The
ball provides good conditions for learning
The rhythmical back and forth and up and down, the regular
reversal between gravity and the lack of gravity at the end
points, the shift of the center of gravity with corresponding
contraction and relaxation of the involved muscles, as well
as the pumping mechanisms required for this kind of energy
expenditure, effect the essential nutrition of the disks and
other organ systems, especially the oxygen supply of the brain,
so essential for learning. The rhythmical movement causes
not only a balance between tension and relaxation in the muscles,
but also a feeling of well being with a concentrated readiness
for learning.
Effects
of sitting on the ball
The sitting
ball allows various beneficial training affects:
- It
creates attention and opens channels for the perception
of one's own sensation.
- It
allows active-dynamic, and therefore, mobile sitting.
- It
is the ideal training apparatus for the improvement of the
endurance of sitting and postural muscles.
- As
a dynamic balance apparatus, it improves sensory perception,
especially of changes in gravity or rather changes in the
center of gravity. It acts as a stimulus for regulation
of posture.
- It
allows, through active pumping mechanism an alternate loading
and unloading of disks, which is of great importance for
the nutrition and proper functioning of the disk's tissue.
- It
improves, via improved blood circulation the effectiveness
of all the organ systems, especially the brain, which undoubtedly
is of interest to teachers.
Life
is Vibration
Our organism is dependent on repetitive changes of position
and pressure. It requires vibrating and rocking, rolling and
turning, elastic and bouncing, twisting, and linear kneading
and pumping motions. The sitting ball invites us to be creative
in our active dynamic sitting posture where rigid seating,
writing and other work related equipment impair this natural
need for movement.
Feeling
well is a prerequisite for holistic learning
Based on the definition of fitness as a feeling of wellness
in the intellectual, psychophysical and social domain, we
recommend the integrated use of the ball as sitting ball as
well as gymnastic ball. By doing so, this multipurpose piece
of equipment will serve the school, at the work place or at
home. It will accommodate to serve for multiple tasks of sitting,
it will serve the perception and processing of physical signals.
It will serve to promote active learning and it will serve
the entire organism.
The responsibility of the school
We grown-ups owe it to our youth that we support them in
their growth and that we influence their physical development
in a positive way. We are also responsible for the formation
of awareness of their own health. Through our own example,
as well as with appropriate, health conscious measures,
we can help them live to an old age without physical problems.
Schools, as educational agents, have an important function
with regard to prevention. The educational agencies of the
countries as well as the schools and the parents share the
responsibility. All those responsible for education and
those who make decisions for the movement oriented school
have to exert their influence so that situations in the
daily life of our children which are harmful for their health
should be minimized and actively changed. This effort paid
off thirty years ago for reducing cavities in teeth; teeth
are replaceable- the spine is irreplaceable.
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