Balance Mat
The Balance Mat is an innovative mat that has been designed to challenge and improve balance. It achieves this through regular use by stimulating the nerves and the parts of the brain involved in coordinating lower limb and trunk control, thereby creating a more stable posture.
Exercise videos and voice over guides are available simply by scanning the QR code on the mat and we include printed exercise sheets with every mat.
£49.95
Product Description
Who are the main users?
- Any adult group that has a falls risk as a result of disease or age.
- Children with balance/coordination delays (Down’s syndrome, dyspraxia, autistic spectrum, toe-walkers, in-toe or out-toe walkers, club feet, and flexible flat feet) • Adults wanting to maintain balance through regular testing and training to avoid falls.
The approach to improving your balance
Performing the Balance Mat exercises barefoot is recommended. However, if footwear use is necessary for other conditions and comfort, their use will only have limited effects. Work through the exercises until an exercise challenges your ability to balance (even a slight wobble). Stick to this exercise until you are able to perform it easily and repeatedly before moving to the next. For example, if a yellow level exercise causes you a problem, keep performing yellow level exercises until they are always easy, before you attempt blue exercises.
Positioning your Balance Mat
Lay out the Balance Mat flat on a stable flat surface. A hard floor works well. However, laying the mat onto a carpet can make the exercises more difficult, which ironically can improve results.
Balance Mat Hub
For a compete list of all exercise and all information on the balance Mat please visit the Balance Mat Hub
Warnings:
- If you have a history of recurrent falls, please seek professional advice before using the Balance Mat.
- For regular fallers, a non-slip hard-floor or minimal pile carpet will be the best starting option. Placing the Balance Mat near a wall, or with the frame of a doorway offers nearby support.
- If you are visually impaired, you will need to perform these exercises in the company of someone physically able to assist you.
NOTE:
Your foot needs to only touch the indicated segment with the forefoot (ball of your foot). It does not matter if other parts of your foot are touching another colour or numbered segment. The start position is the black feet, known as HOME. All exercises start and finish with HOME.
Maintaining a stable bipedal posture is challenging especially in an animal without a tail but having a large head and long arms. Other bipeds like dinosaurs of the past or birds and kangaroos of the present, have either large tails, small arms, folded-back wings, small heads or variable combinations of these features. This allows the hips to act like the pivot of a seesaw, with weight in front and behind the hips being relatively balanced.
For more information please head to Balance Mat Hub