Fitness Ball Recall

(WUSA) -- There's a new warning tonight about 3 million inflatable fitness balls made in China: the balls can suddenly pop if over-inflated, despite labeling on the products that say they are burst-resistant.

EB Brands makes the rubber exercise balls sold under such brand names as Bally Total Fitness, Everlast, Valeo and Body Fit Fitness Balls.

While the CPSC is calling the action a "recall," the company is only taking back balls that have burst. EB Brands is issuing new instructions to consumers on how to safely inflate the exercise aides, also called stability balls.

Nine News Now spoke with personal trainer Rexx Samuells at City Fitness in Northwest Washington, D.C. about the balls. He uses them to enhance the toning power of pushups, squats, and abdominal crunches.

He says, "You want to inflate it to 75 to 80 percent. You don't want to inflate it to its maximum. And then you want to wait about 24 hours until you actually use it.

The CPSC says 47 people have reported the balls suddenly bursting since 2000. Injuries range from multiple bruises to fractures.

The fitness balls will remain in stores, but will have more stringent safety warnings and guidelines.

For more information, call the EB Brands hotline at (800) 624-5671 or the CPSC recall hotline at (800) 638-2772.