Health: Stability Balls Resource
Stability Balls - Balancing yourself on a stability ball (those oversized balls bouncing around gyms) strengthens your core muscles - abdomen, lower back, and hips - which stabilize the trunk and allow you to run faster with less effort, according to Deborah Mullen, a certified trainer and runner in San Luis Obispo, California.
Sitting on a stability ball also demands good posture, which carries over to proper running form and decreases risk of back injuries. "Runner's lower back muscles tend to be stronger than their abs", says Mullen.
"That imbalance can pull the back out of alignment." Start with an hour the first day, and gradually increase time spent on the ball an hour each day. You might feel sore at first, especially if your abs aren't in six-pack condition yet.
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