balance
training
STRIKING A
BALANCE
What are the benefits of balance training, should we
incorporate it into our gym workouts, and do current
health club-based offerings address the needs of all
types of exerciser? Kathy Carter investigates
B
alance is a state of boosts muscle strength and power, Preventative measures In fi t members,
equilibrium, defined as is crucial according to Peter Hope of balance training can help prevent injury
‘the ability to maintain the BalanceMaster. “Structural balance by improving muscle force capacity
centre of gravity of a body allows us to use our muscular strength
within the base of support, with minimal functionally,” he explains. “It increases the abdominal region, spine and pelvis.
postural sway’. But is this something our range of movement, enhances Unstable exercise using a stability ball or
we should be working on at the gym sporting performance and is an essential wobble board is often favoured as a
alongside resistance, CV and flexibility requirement for everyday living, including means to do this, challenging the centre
training? And if so, are we offering the using fi tness equipment in the gym safely.” of gravity and improving balance using
right kind of balance training in our gyms Personal trainer Nick Mitchell, of reflex responses. In an online article
1
,
to improve members’ performance? health and fi tness consultancy Ultimate American personal trainer Ken
Fitness training commonly focuses on Performance, adds that achieving Kashubara, of Kash Personal Training,
two types of balance. The fi rst is core optimum structural balance is a highly explains that “while standing on an
balance training, which involves exercises important component of building unstable environment, the body’s sensory
designed to improve the muscular muscle. “If your ‘big’ muscles are strong, receptors tell the brain, ‘we’re about to
anatomy supporting the abdominal region, but the fi xators and stabilisers that fall’. The brain then tells the body what
spine and pelvis, as well as proprioception support them are weak, what do you muscles need to contract to balance.”
(body awareness). The second is body think will happen?” he asks. “The answer Advocates of stability balls such as
equilibrium training. In addition to is injury and impaired performance. To the Swiss Ball or Fit Ball rightly say that
developing proprioception, this ‘whole work on stability, focus on the large exercising on a ball will improve vital
structure’ balance training focuses on muscles and the stabilisers that enable strength in the abdominals and lower
improving strength and power in the them to fi re properly.” back, with the unstable surface requiring
major muscles – particularly in the legs – the user to constantly adjust their
and the dynamic stability of the supporting stable vs unstable surfaces balance. Personal trainer Scott Bryant, a
muscles, ligaments and tendons. Balance training in health clubs, however, corrective holistic exercise kinesiology
Paying attention to the whole body commonly focuses on developing the (CHEK) practitioner, believes the
in this way, with balance training that core: strengthening the muscles around Swiss Ball, pioneered by Paul Chek
1
‘Functional Strength Training: Using Hundreds Of Muscles With Each Exercise’, Ken Kashubara, 2007
64 Read Health Club Management online may 2009 © cybertrek 2009
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84