Have you ever wondered what the difference is between these balls and children’s toys? These large balls are known as yoga, stability, or exercise balls and they actually have many different purposes.
They can be used as tools in physical therapy for a variety of reasons:
- To develop stronger bodies: Different muscles are used throughout the body to help keep you steady on top of the ball.
- To develop gross motor skills: These skills are involved in the coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts. Performing certain exercises on a stability ball, patients can enhance their gross motor skills.
- To promote coordination and balance: Coordination and balance are key in recovery from many injuries, and specific exercises with a stability ball will help patients improve their ability to balance.
Here at RPT, we recommend using stability balls for a large range of injuries. From patients that have had surgery on an upper extremities or in their spine, to patients who simply need general core strengthening to decrease risk of future injury, stability balls are an excellent tool to use in rehab and injury prevention.
Stability balls have many different functions. We strive to ensure that every patient we treat gets quality care with whatever tools needed.
We also recommend that patients continue exercises at home. By having a stability ball of their own, they can continue progressing at their own pace in a home-based program.
