A medicine ball is a weighted ball used as a part of athletic training or in rehabilitative ways to help people recover from or prevent injuries. It was invented 2500 years ago by no less than the father of medicine, Hippocrates, using animal skin sewn in rounded form and filled with sand.
Today, this fitness equipment is usually made with either rubber, leather, or vinyl covered nylon cloth, stuffed with sand or steel shots. They weigh anywhere from a couple of pounds to up to 25 pounds (11.34kg) and come in varying sizes. They can be thrown, caught, or used as weights during exercise. Medicine balls in the shape of basketballs, volleyball, and other sports balls are common.
Medicine balls are quite sturdy and can survive harsh handling during shipping. However, they must be packed in rigid boxes that can withstand their weight and provide protection while in transit. Here are tips on how to properly pack and ship a medicine ball.
Use a sturdy cardboard box that is large enough to snugly accommodate the medicine ball and provide extra space on all sides top and bottom. Fill the bottom of the box with a layer of packing peanuts. Place the ball on top and fill sides and top with more packing peanuts or other strong materials that can fill gaps and prevent the ball from moving without buckling under its weight.
Make sure that the ball is not moving inside the box before closing and sealing the package with heavy-duty packaging tape.
When shipping several medicine balls in one package, it is best to pack them in a crate with ample packaging materials on all sides, top and bottom. An ordinary cardboard box may not support their weight.
Address and label the box and take to a local post office or shipping company.