1 History of the Swiss Ball.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 History of Literature on the Swiss Ball.- References.- 2 Neuroanatomical, Neurophysiological, and Physiological Bases: A Hypothesis.- 2.1 Brain Stem and Reticular Formation.- 2.2 Cerebellum.- 2.3 Vestibular System.- 2.3.1 Vestibular Nuclei.- 2.3.2 Visual and Auditory Tracts.- 2.4 Hypothalamus.- 2.5 Thalamus.- 2.6 Basal Ganglia.- 2.7 Autonomic Nervous System.- 2.8 Limbic System.- 2.9 Sensorimotor System.- 2.10 Physiological Responses.- 2.10.1 Valsalva Maneuver.- References.- 3 Motor Learning.- 3.1 Stages of Learning.- 3.2 Knowledge of Result, Knowledge of Performance.- 3.3 Feedback.- 3.4 Clinical Applications: Examples.- 3.5 Plasticity of the Brain.- References.- 4 Practical Considerations.- 4.1 Ball Conditions.- 4.1.1 Exercise Surface.- 4.1.2 Cleaning the Ball.- 4.1.3 Pressure in the Ball.- 4.1.4 Size of the Ball.- 4.2 Safety Conditions.- 4.3 Precautions, Contraindications.- References.- 5 Points of Observation.- 5.1 Ball-Floor.- 5.2 Ball-Body.- 5.3 Body-Floor.- 5.4 Base of Support.- 5.5 Bisecting Plane.- 5.6 Body Distances.- 5.7 Hinged Joints.- 5.8 Continuing Movement and Buttressing.- References.- 6 Exercise Terminology and Muscle Activity.- 6.1 Exercise Terminology.- 6.1.1 Body Segments.- 6.1.2 Potential Mobility.- 6.1.3 Dynamic Stabilization.- 6.2 Variations of Muscle Activity.- 6.2.1 Parking Function.- 6.2.2 Supporting Function.- 6.2.3 Free-Play Function.- 6.2.4 Bridging Activity.- 6.2.5 Hanging Activity.- 6.3 Primary Movement, Actio-Reactio.- 6.4 Conditio-Limitatio.- References.- 7 Planning of Exercises, Screening, Evaluation, and Treatment.- 7.1 Evaluation.- 7.2 Muscle Strength and Range of Motion.- 7.2.1 Hip Extensor and Flexor Muscles: Testing Strength in Side-Lying Position.- 7.2.2 Hip Extensor Muscles: Testing Strength in Supine Position.- 7.2.3 Hip Extensor Muscles: Testing Strength in Prone Position.- 7.2.4 Hip Abductor and Adductor Muscles: Testing Strength in Supine Position.- 7.2.5 Hip Abductor and Adductor Muscles: Testing Strength in Side-Lying Position.- 7.2.6 Combination of Movements in Several Planes.- 7.3 Back Extensor and Trapezius Muscles: Testing Strength.- 7.4 Triceps Brachii Muscle: Testing Strength.- 7.5 Abdominal Muscles and Hip Flexor Muscles (Iliopsoas): Testing Strength in Sitting Position.- 7.5.1 Abdominal Muscles and Hip Flexor Muscles: Testing Strength in Supine Position.- 7.5.2 Combination of Strengthening Abdominal and Hamstring Muscles.- 7.5.3 Abdominal Muscles: Testing/Strengthening in Prone Position.- 7.6 Evaluating Alignment.- 7.6.1 Supine Position with the Swiss Ball Under One Leg ..- 7.6.2 Common Patterns of Deviation from Normal Alignment of Femur, Lower Leg, and Foot.- 7.6.3 Sitting on a Bench/Chair and with the Swiss Ball Placed Under the Feet.- 7.6.4 Sitting on the Swiss Ball.- 7.6.5 Sitting on the Swiss Ball and Taking Steps Until Reaching Supine Position on the Swiss Ball.- 7.7 Evaluating Quality of Movement and Dissociation of the Lower Extremities.- 7.7.1 Supine Position, Both Legs on the Swiss Ball.- 7.7.2 Supine Position, One Leg Resting on the Swiss Ball ..- 7.7.3 Supine Position with Alternate Leg Movements.- 7.7.4 Prone Position Over the Swiss Ball.- 7.8 Testing Balance.- 7.8.1 Balance Deficits.- 7.8.2 Screening Balance.- 7.9 Identifying Neurotension Problems and Treatment.- 7.9.1 Prone Position over the Swiss Ball.- 7.9.2 Supine Position over the Swiss Ball.- 7.9.3 Supine with the Legs on the Swiss Ball.- References.- 8 Assistive Devices.- 8.1 Sitfit and Swiss Ball.- 8.2 Foam Roll and Swiss Ball.- 8.3 Swiss Ball and Thera-Band.- 8.4 Swiss Ball and Dumbbells.- 8.5 Swiss Ball as an Assistive Device in Manual Therapy.- References.- 9 Exercise Descriptions.- 9.1 "Cowboy".- 9.2 "Scale".- 9.3 "Indian Fakir".- 9.4 "Donkey Stretch Yourself".- 9.5 "Stretch Myself".- 9.6 "Sea Gull".- 9.7 "Hula-Hula, Forward/Backward".- 9.8 "Hula-Hula, Side to Side".- 9.9 "Salamander".- 9.10 "Swing".- 9.11 "Duck".- 9.12 "Crab".- 9.13 "Trot".- 9.14 "Sea Urchin".- 9.15 "Goldfish".- 9.16 "Walking on Hands".- 9.17 "Push Me-Pull Me".- 9.18 "Figurehead".- 9.19 "Scissors".- 9.20 "Mermaid".- 9.21 "Carrousel".- 9.22 "Perpetual Motion".- 9.23 "Pendulum".- 9.24 "Rock'n Roll".- 9.25 "Move My Leg".- 9.26 "Easter Bunny".- 9.27 "Well Figure".- 9.28 "Cocktail Party".- 9.29 "Dolphin".- 9.30 Summary of Exercises.- References.- 10 Intensive and Acute Care.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Applications.- 10.3 Selection of Patients.- 10.3.1 Neurology.- 10.3.2 Cardiology.- 10.3.3 Medical/Surgical.- References.- 11 Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 After ACL Reconstruction.- 11.2.1 1-3 Weeks After ACL Reconstruction.- 11.2.2 3 Weeks After ACL Reconstruction.- 11.2.3 More than 5 Weeks After ACL Reconstruction.- 11.2.4 Adaptation of Exercises.- 11.3 After Shoulder Injuries and Surgeries.- 11.3.1 Introduction.- 11.3.2 Acute Nonsurgical Shoulder Injury.- 11.3.3 The "Frozen" Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis).- 11.3.4 After Surgical Repair of the Shoulder.- 11.3.5 Additional Exercises for the Shoulder.- 11.4 Posture.- 11.4.1 Introduction.- 11.4.2 Postural Deficits.- 11.5 Dysfunctions of the Back.- 11.5.1 Introduction.- 11.5.2 Treatment Goals.- 11.5.3 Treatment Examples.- 11.6 Scoliosis.- 11.6.1 Introduction.- 11.6.2 Treatment Goals and Approaches.- 11.6.3 Treatment Examples.- References.- 12 Medical/Surgical Outpatient Care.- 12.1 Surgical Patients.- 12.1.1 Introduction.- 12.1.2 Evaluation.- 12.1.3 Treatment Approach.- 12.1.4 Treatment Examples.- 12.2 Medical Patients.- 12.3 Osteoporosis.- 12.3.1 Introduction.- 12.3.2 Treatment Approach.- 12.3.3 Treatment Example.- 12.4 Ankylosing Spondylitis.- 12.4.1 Introduction.- 12.4.2 Treatment Approach.- 12.4.3 Physical Therapy.- 12.4.4 Swiss Ball Exercises in AS.- References.- 13 Neurological Outpatient Care.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Symptoms.- 13.2.1 Cerebellar Injuries.- 13.2.2 Parkinson's Disease.- 13.2.3 Cerebral Vascular Accidents.- 13.2.4 Multiple Sclerosis.- 13.3 Restoration of Function.- 13.3.1 Plasticity of the Brain.- 13.3.2 Limbic System Function.- 13.3.3 Swiss Ball Application to Aid Recovery of Motor Function.- 13.4 Physical Therapy in Neurological Deficits.- 13.4.1 Evaluation.- 13.4.2 Treatment Approach.- 13.5 Physical Therapy in Parkinson's Disease.- 13.5.1 Group Exercises.- 13.5.2 Treatment Approach.- 13.5.3 Exercise Examples.- 13.6 Physical Therapy After Cerebral Vascular Accidents.- 13.6.1 Evaluation.- 13.6.2 Treatment Approach.- 13.6.3 Exercise Examples.- 13.7 Physical Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis.- 13.7.1 Evaluation.- 13.7.2 Treatment Approach.- 13.7.3 Exercise Examples.- 13.8 Physical Therapy in Muscular Dystrophy.- 13.8.1 Introduction.- 13.8.2 Treatment Approach.- 13.9 Physical Therapy in Cerebral Palsy.- 13.9.1 Introduction.- 13.9.2 Treatment Approach.- 13.9.3 Exercise Examples.- References.- 14 Incontinence.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Tanzberger Concept for Functional Exercises of the Pelvic Floor.- 14.3 Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor.- 14.3.1 The Three Layers of the Pelvic Floor.- 14.3.2 Innervation of the Pelvic Floor Muscles.- 14.3.3 Muscle Physiology of the Pelvic Floor.- 14.4 The Pelvic Floor and its Functional Connections.- 14.4.1 Functions.- 14.4.2 Training Functional Connections of the Pelvic Floor to Thorax and Legs.- 14.5 Medical Conditions Which May Require Pelvic Floor Exercises.- 14.5.1 Gynecological Applications.- 14.5.2 Urological and Proctological Applications.- 14.6 Retraining the Pelvic Floor Muscles.- 14.6.1 Preconditions for Functional Exercise of the Invisible Pelvic Floor Muscles.- 14.6.2 Treatment Considerations for Sphincter Muscle Weakness.- 14.6.3 Treatment of Descending Diaphragm Pelvis with Gaping Urogenital Hiatus (Postpartum).- 14.6.4 Performance and Sequence of Exercises for Treatment of Incontinence.- 14.6.5 Effect of the Bouncing Movement.- 14.6.6 Observation of Movements During Pelvic Floor Exercises.- 14.6.7 Final Observation and Practical Results.- 14.7 Description of Swiss Ball Exercises.- 14.7.1 Exercises in the Sagittal Plane.- 14.7.2 Exercises in the Frontal Plane.- 14.7.3 Rocking/Bouncing Movements.- 14.8 Exercise Examples.- 14.8.1 "Roll-On".- 14.8.2 "Right Stop-Left Stop".- 14.8.3 "Sit Upright and Roll Toward the Wall".- 14.8.4 "Lean Forward and Roll Toward the Wall".- 14.8.5 "Draw a Urethra".- 14.8.6 Variation with the Thera-Band.- 14.8.7 "Kick and Kick".- References.- 15 Preventive Applications.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Evaluating Postural Alignment in Healthy Persons.- 15.3 Applications to Prevent Injury of the Musculoskeletal System.- 15.4 Treatment Examples.- 15.4.1 A Dental Hygienist.- 15.4.2 Musicians.- 15.4.3 Desk/Computer Workers.- 15.4.4 The Swiss Ball in Schools.- 15.4.5 Relief of Aches and Pains in Health Professionals.- References.