The Muscle Couple here to discuss the merits of training on unstable surfaces.

Are exercise balls, balance discs and wobble boards really all they are cut out to be?

How Could This Trainer Have His Client's Best Interest at Heart?

Much of the latest research is finding out they “CAN BE” more than hyped marketing gimmicks.  Why?   Under highly controlled conditions they alter muscular recruitment patterns which enable them to significantly improve the treatment of ankle and lumbar spine dysfunction.

They can also be useful in many forms of core strengthening, given proper posture and technique. In this respect, unstable exercises deserve a rightful place in health and fitness centers.

But the main problem is when so many people glorify the usage of “highly specialized clinically controlled applications” with trendy exercises in every garden variety gym or fitness center.  Like squats on exercise balls, or clean and jerks on wobble boards.  How many times have you seen a personal trainer at your gym training a seriously overweight person on a wobble board?  It’s sadly very commonplace these days.

Most of these products including balls-discs and wobble boards are being used by personal trainers and other therapists with little to no formal training and in an even less controlled environment, where they can ensure their clients safety.  In these cases, unstable surface training’s risks, clearly outweigh the rewards.  And when combining their usage with relatively untrained/detrained populations (such as those found in many gyms across the globe) severe injuries and harm to the trainees are likely if not probable.

The Muscle Couple believes it’s time to step back and take stock of our unstable surface exercise protocols .  Let’s develop a better understanding of the basic scientific principles which allow for their proper use and application.  Once we do, it stands to reason we’ll all become more grounded.

Literally and figuratively.

MIHWCS