In the 2000s, the Pezzi ball came to German offices and for a long time seemed to be an all-round solution for the lack of movement in the workplace, including back pain. Nowadays, only a few people work with a sitting ball under their bottom and most balls gather dust in storage rooms. Unjustified? What is the reality based on the facts? Is the sitting stool perhaps a good alternative compared to an office stool such as the Aeris Swopper?
Here we take a closer look at both seating options and show you the advantages and disadvantages:
Check No. 1: Individual setting options
Here the Pezzi ball has the swivel stool Aeris Swopper clear disadvantages. Although the sitting ball is available in different sizes (approx. 45 to 95 cm in diameter) , you cannot adjust its height individually and therefore cannot adapt it optimally to your desk or your body size.
You also cannot quickly adjust the tension and thus the depth of swing for a good sitting feeling on the sitting ball.
With the Aeris Swopper office stool, however, you can roughly adapt the chair to your needs in the first step thanks to the four different spring leg variants:
Spring leg Standard (for body weights between 50 and 120 kg), Low (for tables lower than 65 cm), High (for body heights over 185 cm) and Light (for people up to 50 kg and body heights up to 165 cm).
In addition, the individual seat height can be continuously adjusted with one hand. This means you can achieve the optimal angle between your hips and knees in no time at all.
Furthermore, the spring tension, i.e. the vertical swinging up and down, can be individually adjusted to your body weight. You can also adjust the lateral mobility of the work stool to suit your personal preference.
The Aeris Swopper is therefore clearly superior to an exercise ball.
What is a Pezzi ball?
The name PEZZI is protected and belongs to the Italian manufacturer of exercise balls, Ledragomma. A PEZZI exercise ball, or Pezziball for short, is actually a large exercise ball, originally from that manufacturer.
The term Pezziball is now a deonym for a large exercise ball and is also used for balls from other manufacturers.
Check No. 2: Security
In terms of safety, the Pezzi ball loses the most points compared to the office stool. This is because most exercise balls are unstable and can easily roll away.
Just one second of sitting without paying attention is enough to lose your balance and fall off the ball. Some manufacturers now offer a sewn-in bottom ring to prevent the ball from rolling away, but this limits your mobility.
Another safety risk: You should make sure that the ball is made of a high-quality material to avoid accidental bursting. The ball should therefore ideally consist of an anti-burst system (usually made of the composite material Crylon) or be labeled burst resistant or burst proof.
With the Aeris Swopper work stool, you don't need to worry about safety. The office stool is TÜV and GS tested and, despite its great mobility, is extremely stable and tip-proof.
The foot ring is available with or without castors (gliders). In the version with backrest, castors and low spring strut type (Swopper Work), the Aeris Swopper complies with the office chair standard DIN EN 1335.
Check No. 3: Design
In addition to the usual, mostly single-colored PVC sitting balls, there are also exercise balls with covers made of different materials such as felt, artificial leather, etc. And the range of colors also ranges from classic to modern.
Disadvantage: the inflated exercise balls do not look very elegant, take up a lot of space and are much bulkier than an office stool.
The Aeris Swopper is unmistakable among office stools with its design – the striking foot ring and the unconventionally convex shaped seat. A unique piece and a classic.
You can customize the ergonomic work stool from over 50 cover and color options. And if you want, you can simply hide the chair under your desk at the end of the day.
Check No. 4: Environmental friendliness
The Aeris Swopper clearly scores points here. Many exercise balls are made of PVC, which is harmful to the environment and health, and must be disposed of as hazardous waste after a relatively short lifespan.
The Aeris Swopper, on the other hand, is hand-made in Germany and therefore has an extremely long lifespan. If something does not work, you can easily replace individual parts and have it repaired.
Check No. 5: Price
The sitting ball is the best choice here, although prices vary depending on size, brand and quality. You can get cheap Pezzi balls for around 10 euros. The middle price range is 50 to 80 euros. The higher quality brand models cost between 100 and 400 euros.
There are many reasons for the higher price level of the Aeris Swopper (from RRP 629 euros). The innovative work stool has a unique 3D movement technology, it is made from high-quality materials and manufactured in Germany (see also Check No. 4).
This ensures high quality and a long service life. The Aeris Swopper also retains a high resale value for years and you have a three-year warranty. But you also get a high-end product.
Check No. 6: Mobility and ergonomic requirements
There is no doubt that you will be much more active when sitting on a high-quality exercise ball than on a conventional office stool. In order to prevent yourself from rolling away on the ball, you have to concentrate on sitting upright and constantly perform balancing movements.
Through the many small modifications in posture, you train the deep-seated muscles, especially in the lower back area. At the same time, your metabolism and circulation are stimulated.
However, the Pezzi ball is neither permitted nor suitable for permanent use in the office. Not permitted for safety reasons. Not suitable due to a lack of adjustment options (see check no. 1-2). You can use the exercise ball for sports exercises in between or after work.
The Aeris Swopper office stool, on the other hand, offers you maximum freedom of movement - but is user-oriented and suitable for the office. The work stool was designed so that you can easily use it all day in the office or home office.
How does it work? Thanks to the Aeris 3D technology, you can move the work stool in all 3 directions: forwards and backwards, left and right and – unique to Aeris – also in the third dimension, namely up and down.
Through the effective up and down movement, the so-called vertical swinging or "swapping", as when walking or running, the intervertebral discs are nourished and relieved, thus keeping them fresh and elastic. This prevents back pain and can relieve it.
Your muscles are strengthened and can therefore fulfil their actual function and keep your back straight. You don't need a backrest as an "artificial support". This is counterproductive for muscle activity.
The lateral flexibility provided by the joint close to the ground also trains your muscles. All of this together stimulates your circulation and metabolism and strengthens your back. You feel more alert and fitter overall. And since muscle work also requires energy, you even burn extra calories.
You can easily sit on the Aeris Swopper all day without getting back pain or tension. The stool allows more than twice as much movement as a normal office chair. And is therefore ideal for long periods of concentrated work in the office or home office.
Conclusion:
The bottom line is that a sitting ball cannot replace an office stool like the Aeris Swopper or is not a real alternative to a work stool . Despite the different ball sizes, it cannot be optimally adjusted to the body and poses too high a risk of falling.
You can use it as a temporary place to sit. But the exercise ball is primarily a training and sports device that can be used in short sessions to strengthen the muscles of the back and stomach.
In order to stay active all day long, even when sitting - and without any effort at all - you should invest in a high-quality, individually adjustable office stool like the Aeris Swopper. This creates a completely new attitude to life with less tiredness and more energy and quality of life. It's worth it!
