How to Sell - Balance/Wobble Boards

A SNEWS® Training Center article

Why Train Balance

Balance is of course what keeps us upright and mobile. And although one doesn't ever think about training balance, every one of your customers should because it is what allows them to run, walk, skate, ski, hike or run around after their kids. That's because everyone balances for a millisecond with every step and, in active pursuits and exercise, good balance helps improve performance and staves off injury.

Plus, balance has to be practiced, particularly as we age. Watch some senior citizens shuffling down the street. The shuffle is often because they don't have enough sense of balance or strength to actually lift a foot and not fall.

Who hasn't sprained an ankle, tripped over a rock, or slipped on a wet or icy sidewalk? Better balance can keep the little twist or slip from becoming an activity-curtailing disaster.

What Balance Training Does

Standing on balance or wobble boards and working to maintain an upright position does four things for a person's balance:

It strengthens lower legs, feet and lower body muscles key to the strength needed for good balance.
It tunes the so-called "proprioceptors" in the joints and muscles. If well-tuned, they will respond involuntarily if you start to tilt and automatically keep you upright.
It teaches the person balancing to use and to process visual clues to keep him or her on an even keel.
It educates a person to stand tall and look out at the horizon, not down at the ground, so the body's natural balance mechanisms - ears and eyes - can function properly.

Integrating Balance into Life

A few minutes of balance training each day can be integrated into things a person already does at home and at the office. Stand on a balance board while watching the news, brushing your teeth, or while talking on the phone. Make it a habit, part of a regular daily routine.

For example, a person can also:

stand on a balance board for some weight-lifting exercises such as curls
sit on it while doing ab exercises
stand on it while at the sink washing dishes
stretch on it after an aerobic workout
Stand on it while playing fetch with a pet dog

Differences in Boards

Prices can vary from about $30 to $60, with some boards going for as little as $15 at mass merchandisers and sporting goods stores. The difference is in construction and features.

For example, a better board will have an adjustable base, a non-slip top to stand on, will have an even speed of tip (rather than just flopping with a jerk when you are off-balance), and won't flex with a user's weight. A top-end board will most likely be made of wood and have more adjustments for different levels and skills. Both will come with some kind of instruction or education on enclosed brochures or on packaging. Cheap boards may not have any adjustment, education or consistent tipping and could be less durable.