Body Mechanics Begins With Balance
Erik Dalton, Ph.D.
Article as seen in Massage Today Magazine March 2008
Many therapists wrestle with maintaining proper body
mechanics, but some have discovered a simple exercise tool that
dramatically enhances their therapeutic skills. I’ve found that
training five to 10 minutes a day on a rocker board
significantly improves my balance, core stability, strength and
endurance.
Since balance is the
critical building block making movement possible, any exercise
to improve balance will surface in the quality of your touch.
| Clients consciously or
unconsciously sense if a therapist is centered and balanced.
In the absence of dynamic body balance, therapists'
movements often are awkward and jerky, known as the
“jiggling hands” syndrome. Conversely, a bodyworker 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.
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 adjustments rely on
proprioceptors embedded in muscles, ligaments and joints to
detect speed and degree of stretch. The body’s
proprioceptors are highly-refined motion sensors, and
balance boards help train these sensors. While the square
rocker board (Figure 1) allows for one
plane of instability, the round wobble board (Figure
2) provides multiple planes for the most
challenging 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.
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Fig. 1: Square
rocker board.
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Fig. 2: Round
wobble board. |
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Technique
Tips
-
Always stay within your functional threshold of
balance. Hold on to a wall or doorway as needed.
-
Strive to
maintain balance in order to train the body to move
efficiently.
-
Pull your navel
toward your back without flattening lumbar curve to
activate dynamic core stabilizers.
-
Contract your
gluteus maximus muscles with more weight shifted to your
heels. 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. |
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