In the fast-paced world of juggling work and personal life, finding equilibrium can be a never-ending quest. The demands of modern living can be overwhelming, leaving athletes yearning for physical stability and mental calmness.
But fear not, for there is a solution that can help you navigate the chaos and find your center. Enter the balance board – your ultimate companion on the journey to maintaining a steady stance and strengthening your overall core and balance.
Benefits of Balance Board
Balance boards are simple tools in various sizes that have been a must-have for many seeking physical stability and mental equilibrium.
These are fitness tools built to increase core resistance, improve posture and balance, and prevent injuries – to name a few.
They are usually made of wood with a long, dome-shaped bottom and a flat top. The board’s shape lets you move, control your balance, and perform different exercises in varied directions and heights.
Why People Use Balance Boards?
Poor posture, back pain, and low productivity are just a few of the many types of problems addressed by using a powerful balance board. Using a balance board for a few minutes every day will reap you lifetime of benefits.
Let's delve into some reasons people love incorporating balance boards in their everyday lives:
Improved Core Strength
Our core muscles help us to move, bend, twist, and stay upright. Performing exercises with a balance board that targets your core muscles can lead to improved core strength.
Balance board exercises require you to find stability by engaging the muscles around your back, pelvis, and abdomen. Doing so not only strengthens these muscles but also helps in maintaining good posture and preventing back injuries.
After all, a strong core provides a solid base for fitness enthusiasts and athletes who often perform physical activities, like sprinting and weightlifting.
Improved Balance and Coordination
Aside from strengthening your core muscles, balance boards are also beneficial for muscle toning. This tool also helps you to enhance your body proprioception. Proprioception is the ability of your body to sense its position in space and adjust accordingly.
Essentially, this is an innate skill that allows you to close your eyes and touch your nose, knowing where your hand and nose are without having to see them. With regular exercise and challenging activities on a balance board, you can learn your proprioceptive abilities for greater stability, improved bodily coordination, and reduced risk of mishaps and falls.
Injury Rehabilitation
For the past several years, balance boards also gained attention in sports therapy and medical communities because of their therapeutic benefits.
A balance board is also used for recovering from musculoskeletal injuries, especially those caused by sports mishaps. They gently challenge the recovering joints and muscles in different parts of your body, like your shoulders, promoting strength regain and form without overburdening the injured area.
Beyond that, enhanced balance and coordination through balance boards also help in preventing future injuries.
Cognitive Development and Benefits
Did you know that balance boards go beyond just an amazing physical tool? Aside from keeping your balance, intense balancing activities with a balance board also require extreme concentration.
As you strive to keep your stability on the board, you automatically engage your mind for concentration, fostering neural connections. Constantly engaging your brain with balancing exercises can enhance your focus and concentration in other tasks.
Moreover, the meditative aspect of concentrating on stability can boost mental relaxation, making it a holistic exercise for the body and mind.
Features of Balance Boards
Balance boards, while having a simple design, are intricately crafted tools with safety and functionality in mind. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast or someone new to the world of stability training, understanding the features of these boards can help optimize your experience.
Material
Most manufacturers use wood to create a balanced board because of its natural feel and sturdiness. Wooden boards can withstand daily wear and tear and offer a classic aesthetic look.
On the other hand, boards made of plastic are lightweight and resistant to moisture, so they are ideal to use in damp or sweaty environments. Regardless of the material, the primary goal is durability, ensuring that the board serves its user for years without succumbing to wear and tear.
Surface
The textured surface on these boards prevents slips and falls. Whether it is grip tape, rubberized coatings, or ridges, these textures keep stable footing during intense sessions.
Furthermore, some boards also have padding or cushioning for extra comfort, especially when used for long periods.
Base
Some bases are designed as rollers, cylindrical objects that challenge the user to balance the board atop them. This base design offers a challenging and dynamic experience, often popular among advanced users and athletes. Spherical bases, on the other hand, provide a multidirectional wobble, engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
The main use of the base in balance boards is to introduce instability, compelling users to engage their core muscles and find equilibrium.
Top 3 Best Balance Boards
- Yes4All Versatile Wooden Wobble Balance Board – Cheap Options
Yes4All Balance Boards are perfect for those new to stability training. This is made with wood and can hold individuals weighing up to 300 pounds.
It features an anti-skid surface, ensuring your safety during training. This feature, combined with its stable design, ensures that users can use the board without the fear of potential falls or slips.
- StrongTek Professional Wooden Balance Board – Popular Choice
StrongTek’s Balance Board is known for its unparalleled quality. This is made with quality wood, and designed for intensive workouts. It also features a slight tilt design to challenge users to spend more time on the board and enhance their balance skills.
StrongTek’s balance board is a popular choice for beginners and advanced users because of its versatility, allowing you to perform a full-body workout experience.
Revbalance 101 v2 - Balance Board Sports Trainer – For Athletes
The Rev Balance Board is designed to complement and create the essential movements of real-world sports, making it an invaluable tool for performance enhancement.
This board is tailored to support the dynamic needs of sports enthusiasts who are keen on snowboarding, surfing, or skateboarding. Its design intricacies ensure athletes can learn the precise movements required.
Additionally, its sturdy construction is designed to support longevity, even under rigorous training sessions.
"The Suring Balance Board!"
Trobing Standing Desk Balance Board – For - Balance board for standing desks
Our wooden wobble standing desk balance board provides relief from standing fatigue, discomfort, and pain, while improving posture and circulation.
Features:
- Comfortable anti-fatigue mat with massage points made of high-quality polyurethane water-based foam PU sponge.
- Side-to-side rocking design with an 8.2° wobble angle.
- Built-in foot massager ball with a 360° rotation roller ball.
- Maximum weight capacity of 350lbs (0.16 t).
Benefits:
- Relieves standing fatigue and lower back soreness during long hours of work.
- Provides a variety of ways to stand, relieves knee stiffness, and changes posture.
- Helps relieve pain in the lower back, legs, knees, heels, and ankles.
- Relieves discomfort during prolonged exercise and allows for longer standing without tiredness.
- Reduces tension in the lower back, improves circulation in the legs, and reduces fatigue.
- Provides a self-controlled massage and stretch for the bottom of the foot and plantar fascia.
- Offers a safe and comfortable exercise experience.
Conclusion
Balance boards are tools to improve mental health and transform physical stability. Whether you want to improve your sports performance, recover from an injury, or improve your overall standing stability, giving some time to practice exercises on such boards into your daily activities can be life-changing.