Using Proprioceptive Boards in Rehabilitation and Physical Preparation

The proprioceptive boards, comprising the Round Balance Board Art. no. 1011, the Square Balance Board Art. no. 1012, and the Rectangular Balance Board Art. no. 1013, are essential tools in both rehabilitation and athletics. Their main function is to train the body on unstable surfaces by stimulating the proprioceptors, which are sensory receptors located in the muscles, joints and connective tissues.

Proprioception stimulation

Training on unstable surfaces such as those offered by proprioceptive boards forces the body to make constant adjustments to maintain balance. Proprioceptors constantly send messages to the central nervous system, providing feedback information on body movements. This process helps improve spatial awareness, co-ordination and neuromuscular response.

Aims in Rehabilitation

In rehabilitation, the use of proprioceptive boards is essential to recover the functionality of joints, especially ankles and knees. Controlled instability:

• increases joint mobility: promoting greater flexibility and range of motion.
• strengthens the joints: by stimulating the stabilising muscles that support the joints, it reduces the risk of injury recurrence.
• improves proprioception: essential for injury prevention and effective recovery after injuries.

Athletic Aims

For athletes, proprioceptive tablets offer numerous advantages that translate into performance improvements:

• joint stability: by strengthening the joints, the ability to maintain a correct posture while performing exercises or athletic gestures is improved.
• Squat depth: by improving ankle mobility and strength in the stabilising muscles, greater squat depth can be achieved, which is essential for Olympic weightlifting and other sports.
• Coordination and balance: the constant need to adapt to unstable surfaces improves balance and coordination, crucial elements for the effective and safe execution of athletic movements.

Types of Proprioceptive Tablets and their Functions

• Code 1011: Balance Board Round, multidirectional, made of wood. It is the most classic of the proprioceptive boards, also called Freeman's board or 'Priest's hat', and offers ample multidirectional movement. It is ideal for exercises focused on improving range of motion in all directions, with particular reference to the first phases of rehabilitation, dedicated to recovering ankle mobility, without overloading. It can also be used for balance and coordination training, but, often, with help from a backboard or other support.
• Code 1012: Square, unidirectional, wooden Balance Board. Provides instability in one direction only, allowing more precise and focused control of stability. Useful for concentrating work on specific planes of movement, or for performing overload exercises. The square shape allows alternating unidirectionality depending on the type of exercise.
• Code 1013Balance Board Rectangular, unidirectional, made of wood. The rectangular shape, narrow and long, and the unidirectional instability make it particularly suitable for specific exercises, characterised, for example, by high overloads. In fact, the long, narrow shape allows the athlete to spread his feet apart and enjoy a more controllable instability, which also allows exercises with high overloads, even with a barbell.

Integrating proprioceptive boards into the training programme, or rehabilitation, optimises neuromuscular function, improves athletic performance and accelerates post-injury recovery.