This Swiss ball has been tested in a specially designed apparatus, which can progressively load a ball with a series of free weight.

The test ball is then punctured with a very sharp, 10mm knife blade. A ball is deemed to be anti burst when the cut in the ball does not expand from the size of the cut made by the blade. The manufacturer's tests on the DuraBall Pro have exceeded a 500kg burst resistance rating That means if you applied a dynamic load of 500kg to the ball and it suffered a puncture of any kind, it will deflate slowly. This gives a margin of safety to prevent injury in any use of the ball.

Since our involvement in promoting Paul Chek and the techniques he has developed using the Swiss Ball, we have seen rapid changes in the variety of balls available.

A few years ago, we could only get the cheaper balls. In fact we have sold thousands of those balls. Some people have said to us "I’ve used the cheap Swiss balls for a long time and I’ve never seen one burst! What’s the big deal about an anti burst ball, and what’s wrong with the cheaper ball I have been using?"

Well to be honest, provided that the ball doesn’t burst, there is NOTHING WRONG. The deflection of the ball may not be ideal, the resistance to stretching may not be ideal, and there may be difference in texture or 'feel’ of the ball. IF the ball doesn’t break it’s fine. But when a cheap PVC ball explodes it does so very dramatically, much like a toy balloon. Among the thousands of balls we have sold we have seen a small percentage of such failures and it has always concerned us. Some balls have been returned in 3 or 4 pieces. Quite often the ball had no load on it when it exploded spontaneously. Our word of advice on this is that where ever there is an element of risk of injury when a ball should spontaneously disappear out from under the user --specify an anti-burst nature ball. Always use an anti-burst ball with free weights.

Here’s what we recommend:

• If the user is fit, active with a nervous system like a cat, they can use a light version ball for simple exercises.
• If the user has a sedated nervous system, they should consider a burst resistant ball.
• If the user has a pre-existing condition, that would indicate caution, always recommend an anti-burst ball. This includes, those with spinal conditions, pregnant women, the elderly, young children, head injury patients etc., they should always use an burst resistant ball.
• Any professionals, gyms, physios, sports teams, these should use burst resistant balls for the safety factor alone.
• Never use additional weighted resistance without using an burst resistant ball.
• An burst resistant is the preferred ball for use as a chair.

Since pioneering the introduction of the burst resistant balls into New Zealand, we have learned much about the products. It is probably safe to say we are the leading experts on most aspects of burst resistance and light duty balls.

Not all balls are created equal! 

Just because a manufacturer says a ball is anti-burst or burst resistant, doesn’t guarantee safety. You need to know the safe range at which a ball is anti-burst or burst resistant.

We have been selling balls that are burst resistant at various ranges, e.g. 90 kg, and 160 kg. The DuraBall Pro is rated at 500 kg. Some balls we have examined state that they are burst resistant, no rating but through reliable sources in the US, we’ve heard that the rating amounts to no more than 70 kg. That’s the weight of medium size woman. A very small safety margin. We have discontinued the 90 and 160-kg balls and they will be available only as stock lasts. Some sizes are already sold out.

Let me ask you this? Is saving a few dollars on quality really worth it, when safety is at stake? We don’t think so.

Whatever your preference, get on the ball, stay on the ball and enjoy better health.

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