Swiss Ball Bench

[Edward D. Friedman]

Crossfitters: (esp. those w/ engineering bent,)

I'm trying to do everything I can to rehab a spondylolisthesis. I came across the following:

http://www.sorinex.com/whatsnew.asp?c=2&p=4

Since the price range, depending on vendor, is in the $650-900. range, + shipping, I'm trying to figure out the best way to approximate the functions of this bench. ( I've already got the ball :] )

Anyway design-inclined folks with some constructive ideas ?

Thank you.

Eddie

[Mark Mueller]

I'm thinking some 1.5 inch PVC for the cradle to hold the ball and then a foot rest/holder built with scrap lumber attached to a fixed post independent of the cradle. I might make astab at it this weekend....if I do I will send a picture.

[Aptdwler]

A couple ideas:

A ball stabilizer would work great to hold the ball. They also have a lot of other uses. The devise may incorporate one...

http://www.sissel-online.com/product...ccessories.php

If you have one of those, put it on a box.

A bosu on a box would also work. But may be a little easier.

For the legs...either make something from scratch or borrow something. For instance if us have a glut-ham, use the foot thing on it. (Of course if you have a glut-ham, it would be a VERY simalar to this devise...)

[Edward D. Friedman]

Mark and AptDweller:

Thanks for the input. Mark, I hope you get the time and opportunity to explore this. I'd really like to see what you come up with. ( Too busy and too many thumbs to create and fabricate it myself.)

Thanks again,

Eddie

[Carrie Klumpar]

I didn't study the setup in depth, but it looks like you could get the effects of this "machine" with very little additional equipment at all, couldn't you?

For feet, hook them under the bed? Or have a partner hold them, as for situps. For hands, just hold on to the bed leg or a strap wrapped around the leg (or other fixed object)?

How about just make a square shallow box out of PVC and do as Carrie mentioned. I might give it a try and see what happens....

[Ryan Atkins]

I think the option Mike just mentioned will work fine. Today I was toying around with ideas to avoid forking out $200-$400 dollars for a glute-ham setup. I placed my swiss ball on top of my parallettes while hooking my feet under a carpet roll-covered power rack pin. It seemed stable enough for my fat butt (215#) and gave me enough elevation to nearly imitate David Leys' example of the Jim Baker standard for sit-ups (I'd have to use a head touch to a pillow or thai pad, as opposed to the fingers/knuckles reaching back). Here's a pic . . .
http://www.crossfit.com/discus/messages/26/4367.jpg

If you don't feel like constructing stuff, I'd imagine an old tire or inner tube would nicely approximate the option that Aptdwler mentioned, should you have one available.

Ryan

Ryan, thats an even better idea than mine! You get twice the use out of one piece of equipment. I need to get to Home Depot and get some pipe today! :biggrin:

[Donald Woodson]

Just thinking (trying anyway), how 'bout one of them galvanized wash tubs?

[Edward D. Friedman]

Att: Mark Mueller: Did you ever come up with a more formalized conceptualization of this ? I would love to see what you came up with.

Ryan, great work on the "Core Board" !

Best,

Eddie