Who Invented the Stress Ball?

Stress balls come in a variety of designs, materials and uses ranging from ancient art and alternative medicine to rubberized marketing toys. Whether you are looking for a unique gift, medical benefit or a way to advertise your business, stress balls may be right for you.

History

• The invention of stress balls is attributed to the Chinese culture during the Ming Dynasty. It is believed that the earliest form was small balls of iron made by a blacksmith in the town of Baoding. In keeping with this tradition, they are still called "iron balls" in Boading, China.

Materials

• While the Chinese stress balls were traditionally made of iron, they evolved into other materials such as wood, precious stones, metal or glass and became appreciated for both medicinal and artistic value. Internal chimes, activated by the rotating motion, were also introduced to enhance the stress-reducing benefits.

  Contemporary stress balls may be made from any of the traditional materials plus chrome-plated metal, foam, rubber, gels or household materials.

Uses

• The Chinese stress balls are used to reduce stress by rotating them in one hand, usually in pairs, which is believed to stimulate acupressure points in the nervous system. In their flexible contemporary forms, stress balls are squeezed for a few seconds, held closed and released to relieve muscle tension.

Health Benefits

• The potential health benefits of being a stress ball user vary based on your style of use and type of ball selected. Following the logic of Chinese alternative medicine, the stimulation of pressure points in the hand is important because it is believed that these pressure points connect to vital organs such as the heart, stomach and neck, all traditional sites of stress buildup.

  Following the theory of Western medicine, the health benefits come from the release of muscle tension by using the hold-and-release method described above. While only a minority of Western medical doctors accept the Chinese metaphysical explanation for the benefits of stress-ball exercises, some recognized health centers such as the Mayo Clinic incorporate acupressure in the treatment of neck, back pain and joint pain, and as a treatment for anxiety.

DIY Stress Balls

• If you're the do-it-yourself type, you can make your own flexible stress ball from everyday materials by simply adding baking soda, rice, flour, sand or bird seed to a balloon.

Aliases

• Stress balls are also known as: reflex balls, relaxation balls, Chinese health balls, squishy balls, squeeze balls, exercise balls and other similar names.