Wobble boards

[JDelage]

All,

Do you find wobble boards useful to strengthen back and generally improve balance? If yes, which model do you use?

Thanks,

JD

[JDelage]

Andrew,

Thank you. I'm looking specifically on whether wobble boards have been recommended. I was told they could help me strengthen my multifidus muscles.

Sorry my question wasn't super clear.

Joss Delage

[Paul K]

Joss,

Coach has already addressed your question in another post:

Andrew wrote:

I've read a bunch of threads on the forums and the articles in the CST magazine that discuss the Four Corner Balance Drill. Obviously this is a great drill for improving one's balance. I have no doubt it would help any athlete, even "board athletes" (surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders) etc. My question is regarding a comment in Coach Sonnon's article on the 4CBD:

"Regarding the recent pop balance culture, unless one intends on fighting or competing on a pneumatic "wobble" surface, or on a playing field on rollers, then balance training will transfer more rapidly if it is approached from the top down rather than from the bottom up."

So my question is, does that mean there still is value for board athletes with balance boards and their derivatives? Since their competition/playing field, is an unbalanced one. Correct me if I'm wrong (i'm thinking as I type), but could the balance boards be considered an SPP form of balance while the 4CBD is a GPP form of balance? Thanks.

Coach Sonnon relpy:

I don't make claims that I don't investigate personally and research thoroughly. This is one of them. I explored for two years to see the results for myself. This included all of the advanced stunt work and multi-tool use (like snatches and presses and swings of various equipment) on several different boards. I even made the top of the line model available through RMAX. But then after careful consideration and evaluation I found that the coverage (training effect) is purely redundant with the non-tool exercises of CST, with no unique benefits above CST.

Yes, if you're a board athlete and your off-season (say a wake boarder or snow boarder without water or snow), then these would be a form of off-season SPP, sure. But personally, I find that giving an athlete a total break from that kind of proprioceptive proximity is highly beneficial.

If you have the disposable income, then any novelty that keeps you playing is useful. However, if you can't throw around a few hundred dollars on a toy you won't be playing on consistently, then why not.

[JDelage]

Thanks Paul.

[PaoloValladolid]

Andrew is probably referring to this passage from the article

Regarding the recent pop balance culture, unless one intends on fighting or competing on a pneumatic "wobble" surface, or on a playing field on rollers, then balance training will transfer more rapidly if it is approached from the top down rather than from the bottom up. Top-down balance training actively perturbs the structural alignment to illicit the body's natural falling defense -- the righting reflex.

[Connie Brown]

About strengthening your muscle - Are you doing Intu-Flow®? And rather than isolating that muscle, what movements do you think led to the imbalance. Then you can figure out what movements will re-balance it again.

The 4CBD it sounds like, if a wobble board was mentioned.

[JDelage]

My understanding is that multifidus can only be strengthened "indirectly" via agrandissement & balance exercise. I was recommended siting up and trying to be "taller" (stretch the trunk up to align the spine), then have someone gently push me sideways - the multifidus muscles would then automatically get exercized.

The muscles atrophy during disc herneas, which is what happened to me.

[KD Jones]

You might try these articles with relation to the need for integrative (and specific) training regarding the multifidus...

I have a suspicion that I've been told that Be Breathed works the mutifidus via the whole "inner unit" thing. Also, the references to BodyFlow are all over the place...


http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/f...ght=multifidus

http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/f...ght=multifidus

Just saw the post regarding your disc herniation. OW OW OW. Please keep posting on your progress...

[peterng25]

I was at the gym couple of days ago, and grabbed the bosu, then put it down in front of the mirror.
You should have seen my expression as I went through the whole 4cbd on the apparatus.
Honestly, 6 months ago I would not have believed I could do this except in my dreams.
I don't own this equipment, but the best thing about it is I don't have to. As others here will agree to, there's nothing like revisiting some fancy equipment or exercise after a few months of CST, and realizing you how unchallenging it is today

[KD Jones]

GO PETER!

(I envision CST athletes in gyms over the world being asked to "explain what's redundant about x.." and responding with "watch this.")