You may have heard that medicine balls (which are sometimes called Swiss balls, even though there are two different varieties of them) are a really good way of making your abs and other core muscles get stronger than they would otherwise be. While it is true that you can strengthen your muscles through the use of the Swiss ball, it may not be the best way for you to do so. For one thing, there are certain limits to how much movement you can do on the ball. For another thing, the ball is not suited to some kinds of environments, making it less easy to use “in the field.” For another reason still, some of the movements are the kind that you will not likely be using in your daily life.
A Swiss ball is a piece of equipment which allows you to move in a lot of different directions. Unfortunately, the way that most people use the Swiss ball (by laying on it) is one of the few ways that it can be used for core exercises. The fact of the matter is, unless you are hanging on to something solid, it is all but impossible to do such basic core exercises as leg lifts using this type of ball. Since your lower abs are frequently engaged in your daily life, this is an area which you should never neglect.
Another reason why the Swiss ball is not necessarily a good idea to spend your time on is that you are going to find it hard to take this kind of ball with you when you go outside. For one thing, any kind of incline is going to send the ball rolling, forcing you to chase after it (otherwise known as spontaneous cardio). Also, it can be very hard to identify what sorts of sharp objects are on the ground, popping your ball.