While commonly used by people recovering from injuries to strengthen joints, using a wobble board benefits you in many other ways as well.
In this article we’ll look at:
- A quick recap of exactly what a wobble board is
- The types of muscles a balance board works
- Wobble board benefits
- Other ways to strengthen the core
What is a Wobble Board?
Before we dive into the key benefits of the wobble board, it’s worth taking a second to recap exactly what we’re talking about.
A wobble board is a type of exercise balance board that can help improve muscle strength, coordination, and much more. They are slightly different from traditional balance boards in that they have a semi-sphere or small spherical cap in the middle of the bottom of the board.
This cap is what makes the board wobble. Because of the unique spherical shape, the wobble board pivots and turns in all directions. This 360 degree motion is what makes the wobble board an ideal tool for muscle growth and development as well as improving balance and coordination.
What Muscles Does a Balance Board Work?
You might be surprised to know that balance boards actually work a ton of muscles.
From your legs and abs to your core and back, balance boards work your entire body. Here are just some of the muscles that balance boards work:
- Core – By engaging your abdominals and obliques, your core gets a huge workout when you use a balance board.
- Legs – A lot of the work on a balance board is done by your legs. The more you use it, the stronger you will notice your legs getting.
- Glutes – Those muscles that make up your butt get worked hard on a balance board especially as they help stabilize your legs and core while using the board.
- Back – If you have back problems, a balance board can help make your back stronger. When your core is engaged, your back is also engaged, leading to a stronger back and less back pain.
Wobble board exercises are a great thing to add to your everyday workout. They help work your muscles and improve your coordination and balance all in one piece of equipment.
If you aren’t one for exercising in a gym, you can use a wobble board at home simply to practice your balance. Balance boards and wobble boards are often cited among the best home exercise equipment to own.
They are a great multi-purpose tool to develop your muscles and help improve your balance.
Wobble Board Benefits
When used regularly, wobble boards have many great benefits including:
- Improving Balance – One of the main benefits of wobble boards is improving balance. The more you use a wobble board, the better you will get at balancing on it. This increased balance makes you more flexible which helps prevent injuries and make you more sturdy and steady on your feet.
- Injury Prevention – A favorite among elite athletes, wobble boards can help reduce the risk of activity related injuries. When you use a wobble board, your body makes small incremental movements to adjust to the changing balance of the board. Not only does this help you stay balanced and on the board, it also increases the range of motion and the strength of your ankles. This means that your ankles get stronger decreasing the likelihood of them getting injured while running, walking and doing other activities.
- Strengthening Stabilizing Muscles – One of the most ignored muscle groups are the stabilizing muscles. These muscles are what support your main muscles and help them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Weak stabilizing muscles lead to weak main muscles. Using a wobble board will help those stabilizing muscles get stronger which will take pressure and stress off your main muscles and make them work better.
- Strengthens Joints – As you work out on your wobble board and your muscles get stronger, your joints are also getting stronger. Just like muscles, joints need to be worked in order to get stronger and healthier. Wobble boards help you strengthen your joints leading to less risk developing degenerative diseases like arthritis.
- Rehabilitation – If you are recovering from an injury, wobble boards are a great way to build your muscle strength and coordination back up. While they can be challenging to tackle when you are first starting your rehabilitation process, they can help your movement and coordination improve by leaps and bounds over a short amount of time.
- Great workout – Adding in a wobble board to your fitness routine works a whole new set of muscles. From your core to your glutes, the wobble board will give you a targeted and great workout while improving your balance and helping you become more coordinated.
Other Ways to Strengthen the Core
Wobble boards can help make your back, core, and legs stronger and more stable as well as help you develop your balance and coordination. While wobble boards are great, they are just one of the ways that you can build your core strength.
In order to find out what works best for you, it is recommended that you take some time and research other forms of balance boards. There are a ton of different versions of balance boards that can help you reach your goals. Each board is different and each person is different, so you should try a variety of balance boards to find the right fit for you and your goals.
If you are looking for some alternates to balance boards, Tai Chi is another great way to strengthen your core and improve your balance. The slow and intentional movements of Tai Chi are a good way to get the benefits of a balance board without some of the more athletic and difficult movements required when using a balance board.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a good way to improve your strength and coordination, it is definitely worth your while looking into wobble boards.
