Stress Balls as Stress Relievers
Stress Balls
What is Stress Ball?
A stress ball is a malleable toy, usually not more than 7cm in diameter. It is squeezed in the hand and manipulated by the fingers, ostensibly to either help relieve stress and muscle tension or to exercise the muscles of the hand.
There are many types of stress balls. Many are a closed-cell polyurethane foam rubber. This type of stress ball is made by injecting the liquid components of the foam into a mold. The resulting chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide bubbles as a byproduct, which in turn creates the foam.
The use of Stress Ball
Stress balls, especially those used in physical therapy, can also contain gel of different densities inside a rubber or cloth skin. Another type uses a thin rubber membrane surrounding a fine powder. The latter type can be made at home by filling a balloon with baking soda. Some balls similar to a foot bag are marketed and used as stress balls.
Physical therapists use a very similar tool to help people flex and stretch the muscles in their hands. Squeezing a stress ball can reduce the amount of strain associated with repetitive tasks like typing, and it can also help to develop hand strength.
Stress balls are also supposed to be very useful for mental stress relieving, by giving people a tool with which to work out physical aggression and stress. Squeezing a stress ball while imagining a reduction in workplace stress is a frequently-recommended stress treatment tool for people in demanding jobs
On top of that, some stress balls are supposed to be anthropomorphized to people or objects you would like to injure. Instead of wringing your boss’s neck, you can just squeeze the life out of a foam effigy of your boss. It enables you to release your anger without ending up fired or imprisoned.
Using a stress ball doesn’t require any particular instructions or skills: all you need to do is pick the ball up and squeeze it. Repeated use of a stress ball can, of course, cause the same problems that other repetitive motions are associated with, but taking breaks from typing and other repetitive tasks to squeeze a stress ball a few times can be beneficial. For people who are stressed or who have problems with anger management, a stress ball can be a great focusing tool: for example, you can say that you will squeeze your stress ball 10 times before responding to a situation, to make sure that you do not act in haste.
Type of Stress Balls
Despite the name, many stress balls are not spherical. Many stress toys are molded in amusing shapes and screen or spot printed with corporate logos. They are presented to employees and clients as gifts and marketing pieces. Stress toys are a staple of cubicles where repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome are common. Because of the many shapes now available, stress balls are generically known as stress relievers, and are a popular corporate promotional product. Click the thumb-nails below to find a type that will suit you best.
Handstands Morf Stress Relief Balls
Porcupine Massage Ball
Stress Ball and Hand Exerciser
Funky Monkey Stress Ball
Source : Wisegeek.com and Wikipedia.
