About balance boards
There are many different boards available for balance board exercises, so take your time to find the right one for you. I have chosen a light weight, circle board that has small spikes on top. The spikes are good if you want to use the board barefoot or if you’re looking for extra grip if you choose to wear shoes. If you are new to being barefoot then the spikes may feel a little strange to start with but you will get used to it with time. As I have been using the board barefoot for some time, I can now feel my feet/ankles working really hard to keep me stable and it feels like I’m having a little massage at the same time. This is why I’m happy with my board. This video includes a quick warm up routine and a 5 minute quick and easy balance board routine to leave you feeling energised.
Benefits of using a balance board
Balance boards are a great way of testing your balance and can help with increasing your motor skills, increase your heart rate, improve your balance and coordination. One of my favourite benefits is the amount your feet, ankles and lower leg have to work, to help keep you balanced. When we think about exercising our bodies, we usually forget about our feet! So this can be such a quick and easy way to start waking up the muscles in your feet, especially if you are barefoot on the board. Please note, certain boards require you to wear shoes, as the top of some boards are slippery, so please read your instruction manual first, as always safety first! If you’re just starting out, it may be beneficial to wear shoes, to allow you to get used to the board and movement before transitioning to being barefoot, if you have the right board.
About the above routine
I like to use my board after I’ve been sitting in the same position or after doing a repetitive movement i.e. walking, for a long period of time. There are many other exercises you can do with a balance board. If you find any exercise too hard, just focus on the movements you can do and just keep practising being on the board.
I highly recommend you always include a few minutes to warm up your body, especially your feet and ankles, before getting onto your board. I have included a quick warm up, in the energising balance board routine, in the video above. Hopefully after reading and watching the video you will start looking at your feet and ankles differently!
‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you need to keep moving’
Albert Einstein