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Unstable surfaces such as foam pads, rollers, foam rollers, stability balls, bongo boards, balance boards, fitters, etc. are fun tools to work with. Training in unstable conditions can lead to decrease in the force output of a limb, muscle activation and increased antagonist activity. It makes sense. Stand on a balance board and pick up a heavy dumbbell with one hand. You'll feel your whole body tense up. Now that's "increased antagonistic activity!" Greater degrees of instability exacerbate these changes. Because of the instability, the resistive challenge to a limb, under very unstable conditions may be less, than necessary to develop strength adaptations to that limb. However, the torso musculature may be under greater stress. With unstable conditions, a relatively small resistive torque on the distal portion of a limb can result in substantial torque by the torso. This type of training definitely challenges the core more than limb strength. No kidding ! That's the whole idea. Balance training is for improving balance, stability and proprioception. Have fun with it. The body is a load in itself. Get the client to control their body weight first, then progress slowly after that. If you increase the resistive challenge, then slow the movement down. "Stability before mobility" is the way to think.
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