balance board in aquatics

[Guest guest]

The balance board I use in aquatics is really for land use;

however, the way I use it in the pool is to submerge it all

the way to the floor of the pool. Then I stand on it. Because

of it's rocking motion/ability, I put one foot in front, and

exercise toe to heel. Then I switch feet. Then both feet same

thing. Then, with both feet equal distance apart rock it side to

side, so not only feet get worked, but ankles, legs, even thighs.

Then, after about 15 to 20 minutes, I just stand on it with evenly

spaced feet and balance. This board is round, like a large-size

pizza. Like I said in post #21327, sometimes I have ankle weights on

and the current turned up (highest I do this is 5 mph and I face the

current when I do this). I am standing in water up to about

belly-button area for this exercise. Of course, after all the rocking

and front/back side/side work, the hardest part comes at the end of

the session when still, with weights on and facing the current, I just

try to stand still on the board without falling off.

While I do a myraid of other aquatic work as well, I have not been

doing this balance board work long - maybe 8 weeks, and I really

see improvement in balance.

I noticed this especially yesterday when I was working in my

garden, and moving up and down, and standing on somewhat unsteady

surfaces,(like gravel, or my uneven lawn) I felt more 'secure'. The

aquatics staff buy their pool 'toys' (lol) and other equipment from

http://www.sprintaquatics.com/

~ Gretchen