Earlier in the week we spoke about postural stability and why it is important to balance train as we grow older. 
Now that we’ve established why this is important, it is good to know how we can balance train. It is not as simple as just balancing on one foot. There are many balance training tools out there that can help you improve your balance. One such tool that can help are balance pads.
There are different types of balance pads. Some are meant for beginners just starting out, while others are meant for people at a more advanced level. You cannot just hop on an advance balance pad expecting quicker results. Balance training is more of a gradual process that you progressively work on.
The CanDo® Balance and Aerobic Pads are good for those who are just beginning their balance training. Both of these products are great for low impact aerobic exercises and can be used individually or as a group. The CanDo® Balance Pad is great for lunges and trying to balance on one foot. Due to the foam material, the body is constantly challenged to maintain stabilization. The CanDo® Aerobic Pads are colorful pads with a non-slip surface, which is perfect to secure your footing. With a secure footing you can perform exercises such as calf raises.
For a more progressive pad to train on, we offer CanDo® Instability Pads. These pads are color-coded ranging from easiest to hardest. The Yellow pad is the easiest because it is the most stable and the Black pad is hardest because it is the most unstable. These pads are ideal for those who want to progressively balance train with balance pads. You can do all the same exercises you are able to do on the CanDo® Balance and Aerobic Pads with the Instability Pads.
Another exercise that is common with all our balance and aerobic pads is stepping. This is where you stand in front of the pad and then take one step on the pad. As soon as you step on the pad, you will raise and bend the other leg. You can then step back down and alternate legs until satisfied with the training.
When it comes to balance pads and training, we recommend beginners start with the CanDo® Balance Pad, CanDo® Aerobic Pad or the Yellow CanDo® Instability Pad. After mastering the beginner exercises you can then progress to the more advance CanDo® Instability Pads.
For more information on the CanDo® Balance Pads, Aerobic Pads and Instability Pads, click here.
Article written by William Graves.