Balance Boards
Balance boards were originally designed and utilized by physical therapists to help rehabilitate patients with lower leg injuries. In the years that followed, balance boards were discovered by skiers and snowboarders as the perfect off-season training tool. In time, the benefits of balance boards became apparent to physical trainers in all areas of fitness training and today they are used all over the world by people seeking to improve their balance, core strength and overall motor skills. Working with a balance board is still a must-do practice routine for improving skiing and surfing skills and the boards are used nearly universally for physical rehabilitation after injuries to the ankles or knees. Today, people have found even more uses for balance boards, like improving posture and concentration, and they show up regularly in yoga and Pilates sessions too.
Balance boards are affordable, compact and easy to set up and you can use just them about anywhere. It is no wonder they are very popular with fitness fans seeking a good workout in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Balance boards do not just improve your balance of course, they can also boost your overall level of physical fitness.
A traditional balance board is a simple piece of equipment that looks like a skateboard without the wheels. Most boards operate as a flat piece of wood on top of a single roller or pivot in the middle, much like a miniature playground see-saw. Balance boards can come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and construction. The boards are often plastic and the pivot can be a ball instead of a roller. Whatever shape they take, the action is still the same, with users perched on top of the board surface and attempting to maintain balance and control.
It sounds simple enough, but when you add in the variable of different heights of balance boards, things can become more difficult. Balance boards that are close to the ground with a low overall height have a low center of gravity and are far easier to control than a balance board that is 8-inches off the ground. The higher you go, the more difficult balancing becomes. Beginning balance-boarders should start off with lower board heights and have something handy nearby to hang onto should things get too out of control. It does sound simple, but a tall balance board can really tax your strength and balance skills.
The inherently unstable nature of the board forces you to constantly make small corrections in your body position and will use nearly every muscle in your body without even realizing it. Balance boards may be simple and uncomplicated in design and function, but they can deliver a surprisingly effective workout when used properly. The simple but effective qualities of balance boards make them perfect for use at home too.
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