Balance boards are a type of equipment that can be used to improve balance.
They can be used by people who want to improve their balance for sports or other activities, or by people who have difficulty with balance and want to improve it.
The boards may also be used as a rehabilitation tool for people with neurological problems.
The balance board is similar to an exercise ball, except that it has one flat surface and can’t roll away easily.
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Here is what a balance board will help improve:
Balance board has many benefits.
A few examples of these benefits include:
Core Strength
Balance boards help work your core muscles, which helps improve posture and balance.
This may be especially helpful to people who sit in front of a computer all day or for people with back problems.
Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
Balance boards can help prevent injuries because they strengthen the muscles needed for good balance, stability, and coordination.
Balance boards can also help with rehabilitation if you have had an injury or disease that has affected your nervous system (the system controlling balance).
Concentration Improvement
The amount of concentration it takes to balance on a balance board correlates directly with classroom concentration skills.
Balance boards, therefore, are useful tools to help children diagnosed with ADHD.
Reaction Time Improvement
Balance boards help improve reaction time by improving hand-eye coordination and overall body awareness through repetitive activity.
All of this helps make your movements more efficient, which means you’ll be able to react faster when needed for sports or any other activity.
Posture Improvement
Strengthening your core muscles can help correct bad posture. Good posture is especially important for people with back problems.
There are even products designed to help train your inner-ear’s balance system to improve your balance and coordination, so good posture may eventually feel more natural.
Reduce Back Pain
Many cases of chronic lower back pain may be prevented or cured by stronger core muscles.
If you sit in front of a computer all day as many people do now, you’ll want to consider using a balance board as part of your overall fitness regimen.
You also might consider yoga; it has been shown to reduce the risk of lower back pain (in addition to strengthening other parts of the body).
There is no harm in trying a balance board since they don’t cost much and they’re easy to store (just lean it against a wall when you aren’t using it).
If you have back problems, be sure to talk with your doctor before using one.
How to use a balance board
Using a balance board is surprisingly easy.
Here’s how:
- Place the board on a flat surface in a way that you won’t have to move it when you start to lose your balance.
- Stand about 3 feet from the balance board.
- Place one foot on the board and practice raising and lowering your arms.
- Do this for about a minute, and then switch feet. Do this a few times to get used to the board and to strengthen your core muscles.
- After 10 minutes of practice, you’ll be amazed at how easy it will be to stand on the board without losing your balance.
- Once you can stand on the balance board without losing your balance, try standing on one leg.
- This takes the muscles needed to keep your balance and coordination even further.
- You can also stand with two feet on the board and move your arms or just do some yoga poses while balanced on the board.
Remember that as you become more comfortable balancing on a board, it will be more difficult to balance on a stationary surface.
Different types of balance boards
There are two types of boards that can be purchased for use at home.
Balance boards made from hard plastic are the least expensive options.
They’re usually just a circle with no edge, so your foot may slip off if you don’t stand in the center of the board.
Another option is to buy a balance board with an edge.
This type of board is more expensive, but it’s easier to balance on because the edge prevents your foot from slipping off the side of the board.
Balance boards are also available in both hard plastic and rubber materials.
Hard plastic boards are lighter weight but harder to use for exercises requiring lifting weights (like arm movements).
Rubber boards usually cost more, but they can be used for exercises like squats and pushups.
Both types of boards have their benefits and drawbacks, so you should decide what’s most important to you before making a purchase.
What are the best balance boards?
If you’re just looking for a basic balance board, then any type of board will work.
However, if you do a lot of yoga routines or want to be able to use the balance board for other exercises, it’s probably worth spending a little more on a good quality rubber board.
Balance board exercises
You can do a variety of strength exercises using a balance board.
Here are just a few examples:
- Balance on the board while doing 1-legged squats or jumping jacks.
- Stretch one leg out in front while standing up straight and try to hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat with your other leg.
- This exercise will strengthen your core muscles and increase your balance at the same time.
- Hold a medicine ball (or any other weight) in front of you while balancing on the board. Gradually increase how long you can stand on the board with the weight held out in front of you. You can also try moving around or doing yoga poses while you’re standing on the board.
Why balance boards are so popular
Balance boards were originally developed for surfers wanting to improve their balance and stability on a board while waiting for the perfect wave.
Now it’s becoming clear that they can be used by anyone looking to get in better shape or improve their flexibility and coordination.
You may not think you need to improve your balance, but the more you do it, the easier it will be to keep your balance when you’re doing activities in real life.
You’ll also experience a great workout that tones and strengthens muscles in a way that’s just not possible with traditional exercise equipment.
Balance board exercises can tone and strengthen many different muscle groups.
Here are just a few of the muscles worked when using a balance board:
- quads (front thighs)
- hamstrings (back of thighs)
- core abdominal muscles (stomach area)
- lower back muscles (lower back and upper buttocks)
- legs (front, side, and back of legs)
A lot of daily activities require your feet to be flat on the ground, so it’s a good idea to strengthen these muscles.
Strengthening these muscle groups can help prevent future foot problems like fallen arches.
Balance boards are also a great way to increase your flexibility and range of motion without straining any muscles.
Things to consider before buying a balance board
There are two main things you should consider before making a purchase.
Price – You can get a basic balance board for around $10, but they start to become more expensive as the quality of materials increases.
Depending on what you’re planning to use the balance board for, it may be worth spending extra money for better-quality materials.
Weight capacity – The higher the weight capacity, the more you can lift while standing on the board to strengthen your muscles.
It’s important not to overdo it though, so make sure you buy a balance board with enough weight capacity for your needs.
Where can I buy a balance board?
Balance boards are available in sporting goods stores, retail outlets like Walmart, and online.
Be sure to check out all of your options before making a purchase.
Read reviews at amazon.com
to get more information on what other customers are saying about balance boards.
Now you know how to find the best balance board for your needs, so grab one today!
Final Thoughts
Balance boards can improve your balance, increase your flexibility, and strengthen many muscles in your body.
They are great for an easy at-home workout that can be done whenever you have some free time.
If you want to be able to use the balance board for other exercises, it’s probably worth spending a little more for a good quality board.
