Hand squeezing stress ball

The Benefits of Stress Balls for Your Health

Coming in different sizes, shapes, and colors, stress balls may resemble a child’s toy at first glance, but these cushy objects are not solely intended as a plaything. Rather, stress balls are tactile tools designed to help alleviate stress, anger, or anxiety through the contracting and relaxing of hand muscles (per Healthline). Whether made out of foam, fabric, rubber, or plastic, squeezing a stress ball can have a positive impact on both our physical and mental health.

Medical educator Dr. Dominique W. Brooks writes via Love to Know that the use of a stress ball can boost blood flow to the hands and wrists, thereby enhancing circulation. In addition to aiding circulatory health, the act of squeezing and releasing a stress ball can also strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers. This can reduce one’s risk for stress injuries which can occur through repetitive motions such as typing for extended lengths of time. Similarly, a stress ball may help treat or protect individuals from certain health conditions such as arthritis.

To give all parts of your hand a thorough workout, try a few of the following methods suggested by Dr. Brooks. You can build up finger strength by pinching the stress ball between your thumb and each of your fingers, one at a time. For wrist strength, try squeezing the stress ball for three seconds before releasing and do so for 20 repetitions. You can also try twisting the ball with both hands in order to strengthen your hands.

Psychological benefits of stress balls

Stressed man holding stress ball

Living up to its name, stress balls also hold the potential to relieve stress and improve our psychological health. Dr. Brooks writes that the contracting and releasing of hand muscles can help alleviate tension (per Love to Know). Squeezing a stress ball can activate nerves in the hand that are linked with brain regions responsible for regulating our emotions. In addition, these neural signals can also prompt the release of endorphins in the brain. Known as “feel-good” chemicals, endorphins are associated with pain relief and stress reduction, according to Medical News Today.

See Also:  Understanding the urge to eat hair: What it really means

Use of a stress ball may also have the potential to reduce fear. Researchers from a 2024 study examined how various stress relief techniques affected cancer patients experiencing stress over treatment procedures such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Patient anxieties included fear of needles, fear of nausea, and claustrophobia, amongst others. Therapeutic interventions such as squeezing and releasing a stress ball in tandem with taking four deep, slow breaths were found to be among the most effective techniques used to decrease feelings of panic and fear in patients.

Lastly, Dr. Brooks suggests that utilizing a stress ball may also be beneficial for children with symptoms of autism or ADHD by providing a means to cope with frustration or manage behaviors such as fidgeting, rocking, or verbal repetition (via Love to Know).

Lesa O'Leary
Lesa O'Leary

Lesa is a dynamic member of OzHelp’s Service Delivery Team as the Service Delivery Team Leader and Nurse. She has been with OzHelp for five years and believes in leading by example. Lesa has experience in the not-for-profit sector, as well as many roles throughout different industries and sectors, including as a contractor to the Department of Defence. She has expertise in delivering OzHelp’s health and wellbeing programs and engaging with clients in a relaxed and comfortable manner that aligns with the organisation’s vision and objectives.

Lesa has a Certificate 4 in Nursing from Wodonga Tafe, Certificate 4 in Mental Health from Open Colleges, and is currently undertaking a Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment from Tafe NSW. For the past few months Lesa has been an Education and Memberships committee member of the ACT Branch of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).