Bodyworker Balance And Balanceboards

Many therapists struggle with maintaining proper body mechanics

, but some have discovered a simple exercise tool that dramatically enhances their therapeutic skills. I have found that training five to ten minutes a day on a rocker board considerably improves my balance, core stability, strength, and endurance. Since balance is the critical building block necessary for making movement possible, any exercise to improve balance will reveal itself in the quality of your touch.

Patients consciously or unconsciously sense if a therapist is centered and balanced. In the absence of dynamic body balance, therapist motions often are awkward and jerky, known as the jiggling hands syndrome. Likewise, a body worker with a firm and steady touch exudes confidence as body weight travels evenly through the hands, torso, pelvis, and into the legs and feet to form a stable working foundation. Many of these principals are demonstrated in my Myoskeletal Alignment home study courses.

How Do Balance Boards Work?

When the body senses a change of surface, it self-corrects to achieve appropriate positions for that particular movement. These rapid alterations rely on proprioceptors embedded in muscles, ligaments and joints to detect speed and degree of stretch. The proprioceptors in the body are extremely refined motion sensors, and balance boards help train these sensors. While the square rocker board allows for one plane of instability, the round wobble board provides multiple planes for the most stimulating workout. Rocker and wobble boards are fun and safe, but be sure to purchase one with a tactile surface on top and nonskid surface below, such as those depicted in the photos.

Figure 2: Round Rocker Board

Technique Tips

Always stay within your functional threshold of balance - hold on to a wall or doorway as needed.

Strive to preserve balance in order to train the body to move efficiently.

Pull your navel to your back without flattening lumbar curve to activate dynamic core stabilizers.

Contract your gluteus maximus muscles with more weight shifted to your heels and slowly rock back and forth to improve posture and restore proper hip-extensor firing order.

Regardless of age or ability, daily use of a balance board boosts overall fitness, core strength, and therapeutic performance. By improving body and spatial awareness through dynamic balance board exercises, the therapist utilizes less energy, which promotes greater core stability, mobility, agility and touch.

Erik Dalton, Ph.D., Certified Advanced Rolfer, began the Freedom From Pain Institute and created Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques to share his passion for massage, Rolfing, and manipulative osteopathy. Visit the Erik Dalton website for information on workshops, conferences, and CE home study courses.

Read More ~

http://erikdalton.com/media/published-articles/bodywork-mechanics/

by: Erik Dalton

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