Balance isn’t something you really think about. It is like your heart beating or simply breathing–it just comes naturally.
Until… it doesn’t.
And when that happens, you become painfully aware of what everyday life is like without it. Even simple things like getting out of a chair or going on an after-dinner walk become more challenging than you ever imagined they could be. And if you suffer a fall, it can be not only incredibly painful–but life-threatening.
At 60uP®, we love to say “use it or lose it” because we believe that activating your brain and body connection can help balance problems from even developing in the first place. Balance boards can help to improve existing balance issues–but better yet? They can help prevent them.
That’s why balance board benefits go far beyond older folks who are trying to recover from slips and falls.
Here is why balance boards are beneficial for people of ALL ages and abilities.
1. Balance boards help improve your posture.
Odds are, you spend a lot of your day job sitting at a desk, or at home watching TV. Unless you have carefully constructed your work or living room space to be ergonomically friendly, you probably do the dreaded “keyboard hunch” or sit slumped on your sofa for hours on end. This might be just fine–for the short term–but in the long run, sitting this way can create a host of problems, including back and neck pain and poor posture.
While we can’t help you redesign your office space (you can find great advice on ergonomic workspace design from the Mayo Clinic here), we can help you incorporate routines into your daily life that help combat bad posture. The micro-movements that a balance board activates will utilize muscles you don’t normally think about–ones that will help you keep your spine in the correct position instinctively.
2. You can use balance boards to develop core strength.
Core strength is key to enjoying an entire slew of other physical benefits, from increased mobility to a slimmer profile to decreased back pain.
Balance boards help to increase your core strength by working out muscles such as your abdominal muscles, lats, obliques, and even your glutes.
While we aren’t saying using a balance board will give you 6-pack abs—it will definitely improve your ability to perform other day-to-day activities (including sports).
3. They reduce the risk of injuries
Balance is key to so many things–you know this already, even if you don’t think about it. It helps you get in and out of your chair. It prevents ankle sprains (an extremely common injury!) when you are hiking or running. And if you are participating in a sport like surfing or skateboarding, good balance is not just a “like-to-have” it is an absolute “must-have.”
Balance can help reduce your risk of injuries in your day-to-day activities and more athletic endeavors by improving your core strength so that your reaction to things stays on point.
4. They improve recovery from injuries.
No matter how hard you try–accidents happen. And when they do, the road to recovery can feel rather long and tedious. And for many, it can be incredibly painful.
60uP® provides a way to do exercises that are gentle–yet safe and effective. We even offer balance exercises you can do from a wheelchair!
5. Athletic? Balance boards can improve your game.
Improving your balance won’t just help you become a pro surfer or skateboarder. It can help with just about any sport you can think of, from tennis to golf to even skateboarding. In tennis (for just one example), it is important to be in the right position to hit the ball: when you are running around a lot and shifting your weight and position constantly to make a shot, it helps when you have a sharp sense of balance. If your balance is off, your shot (and your winning score!) will be off.
As you can see, balance boards offer a host of other benefits–from helping prevent and recover from injuries to increased stamina and strength. But most of all, we believe that for many, this improvement in balance gives people a new belief in life ahead–one where they can live the dream instead of dreaming of living.
Ready to get started? Order your 60uP® Balance Training System here or by calling 1-800-393-4491.
