What are Stress Balls and Their Benefits?

It can be very difficult to avoid stress, as you will most likely feel it during work, school, or by simply doing different activities at home or outdoors. But, if you are feeling stressed, there are multiple ways that you can relieve that stress so that it won’t affect your mood for the day. One of the best methods to relieve stress is simply playing with a stress ball, which is a soft and bouncy toy that can be carried and used anytime and anywhere. To know more, here is a guide to stress balls and their benefits.

What are Stress Balls?

squeezing a stress ball while working

Stress balls are small toys that are made from materials that make them soft and bouncy. These stress balls can be played using the hands, and all you have to do to play with it is to squeeze it on the palm of your hand using your fingers. So, stress balls are a relatively simple toy that can help in relieving stress.

What’s great about stress balls is that they are affordable, so you don’t really have to spend a lot of money to relieve your stress. Of course, you have the option of getting a head massage or using a massager to alleviate stress, but if you don’t have the budget to go to a spa or to buy a massager, a stress ball will be sufficient in making you feel much better throughout the day at work, school, or home.

What are the Various Types of Stress Balls?

Stress balls are available in different types, which are determined by the materials used to make them and their construction. Here are the types of stress balls that you should try out to see which one is the most suitable for you.

Bean Bag Stress Ball

squeezing a blue stress ball

The bean bag stress ball, as its name already implies, is a type of stress ball that is filled with beans inside. A bean bag stress ball may have plastic beans inside, but there are some stress balls that are filled with actual dried beans to make the toys more environmentally-friendly. A unique feature of bean bag stress balls that you wouldn’t find in other types is their texture, as you will feel the beans inside the ball whenever you squeeze it with your hands.

Gel Stress Ball

gel stress ball

The gel stress ball is filled with smaller balls that are filled with gel, slime, or a liquid substance that is denser than water. Gel stress balls are known for being very soft and flexible, so when you squeeze them, there is a chance that their top and bottom portions will escape out of your hand. The best gel stress balls have a very durable exterior despite being flexible, so you wouldn’t have to worry about the small balls inside popping out of the exterior unless you intentionally poke the ball with a sharp object.

Foam Stress Ball

foam stress ball

The foam stress ball is made from polyurethane, which is a dense plastic that is flexible while having the capability to return to its original shape after it is squeezed. This type of stress ball is arguably one of the most common stress balls you can buy today, as it is relatively easy to manufacture and they can have an affordable price tag. What’s interesting about the foam stress ball is that it can come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and designs, so it can also be used as a decoration piece for your work desk or for your shelves.

What are the Benefits of Stress Balls?

Aside from relieving stress, there are also other benefits that you can get from playing with stress balls. Read below to get more info on the benefits of stress balls for your health.

Relieve Hand Pain

elderly person squeezing a stress ball

Stress balls can help in relieving hand pain, as squeezing on these toys can serve as a form of massage for your hands. Squeezing on a stress ball stimulates the muscles in your hands, which can then help in reducing muscle tension that causes pain, soreness, and discomfort. If you are feeling pain in your hands while working or studying, you can squeeze on a stress ball gently to reduce the pain.

Strengthens the Hand Muscles

Besides giving your hands a massage, a stress ball can also be used to give your hands a little bit of exercise. The squeezing action that you do when playing with a stress ball can help strengthen the muscles, as the action would feel like the gripping or holding action that you would usually do during exercise, particularly while using resistance bands and dumbbells. So, if you want to improve your muscle strength, especially its ability to grip or hold onto heavier objects, then you can squeeze on a stress ball for a few minutes every day.

Improves Blood Flow in the Hands

stress ball with a smiley face

Stress balls can stimulate the blood vessels in the hands, which can then help the blood vessels become more active, resulting in better blood flow. By having better blow circulation in the hands, the pain that you would sometimes feel in your fingers or palms will go away much faster, as the blood will provide a steady supply of oxygen that is needed for the healing process of the muscles.

These are the things that you need to know about stress balls and their benefits. Because of how affordable stress balls are, you can easily try one out today in toy stores. Try squeezing one or two stress balls for a few minutes to see how effective it is in relieving stress, increasing muscle strength, and alleviating hand pain.