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Wobble Board: A traditional wobble board is usually made up of a round, disk-like platform over a partial or half ball affixed to the center, bottom of the platform.
Half Ball: A half ball or balance ball is usually made of a flat plastic platform on one side and the half globe of an inflated rubber ball on the other.
Balance Cushion: This is similar to the half or balance ball, but does not present as severe a test due to a less extreme curve on the inflated round side.
Rocker Board: This device is made up a flat platform, either square or rectangular, placed on a round pivot point.
Rotational Disks -- Made of a relatively thin, flat platform most often round. The top surface of the disk rotates smoothly in a circular motion like a lazy susan. -
Basic wobble board exercises are preformed by standing on the flat platform and trying to balance. This exercises all the muscles of the foot and lower leg, building strength, flexibility and fine muscle control.
Exercises on the half ball and balance cushion general involve standing on the inflated ball side on one foot attempting to remain balanced. Sometimes playing catch with an exercise ball or weighted medicine ball can add additional stress to the exercise and produce a greater benefit.
Exercises on the rocker board are designed to increase strength in the foot. -
All of these devices and exercises were originally designed for injury rehabilitation, but have been adapted into athletic workouts to help build strength, balance and prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.
Exercises are begun from simple, basic movements to more challenging exercises with larger range of motion. A balance cushion, for example, is often used in an earlier stage of physical therapy after an injury in an effort to build up strength to withstand the larger angles and bigger stresses of the wobble board. - Wobble boards are made in a wide variety of diameters and usually adjustable heights from the ground to increase or decrease the effort required to maintain balance. They can measure anywhere from 10 inches in diameter to up to 30 inches in diameter and heights of an inch or two off the ground to more than five inches.
- Wobble boards are most often used to build up strength and balance from the legs and feet, but smaller wobble boards are also used to build up strength in the arms, hands and shoulders. Doing push-ups, for example, with one or both hands placed on a half-ball will require you to activate more more muscles to remain balanced through the exercise.
