title: Elementary Students' Physical Activity Levels and Behavior When Using Stability Balls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity is positively related to improved student behaviors. Stability balls have been used as interventions to affect student behavior. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of stability balls elicits more physical activity than the use of regular chairs and whether stability balls positively influence behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 43 fourth graders) sat on stability balls during class and wore accelerometers. Eight were randomly selected for behavioral observations using momentary time sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decreases in accelerometer counts were found. No obvious difference for on-task behaviors was found between students using stability balls and those using chairs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stability balls do not necessarily elicit more physical activity than do chairs; however, students accumulate light-intensity physical activity when using them. Classroom behavior was not detrimentally affected by stability ball use; thus, stability balls do not appear to detract from the classroom instructional atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Heather E. Erwin, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky College of Education, Lexington; heather.erwin@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Erwin
authors.affiliation: Alicia Fedewa, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky College of Education, Lexington.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fedewa
authors.affiliation: Soyeon Ahn, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Michelle Thornton is Doctoral Candidate, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky College of Education, Lexington.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thornton
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D013334:Students