Balance boards are not just for rehab: Use balance boards to enhance exercise and have fun.

Balance board workouts are a training method involving a series of standing and weight-bearing exercises completed on an unstable surface. They aim to train the muscles around the ankle and improve balance.

Common in rehabilitation settings and conditioning programs for athletes, balance boards can also target upper body stability and core strength.

A balance board is typically made of wood and has a flat top and a dome-shaped, unstable bottom in the center of the board. This allows the board to move in different directions.

Rocker boards can be rectangular or have a curved U-shape, which allows you to move from side to side or from front to back.

Round balance boards, also called wobble boards, allow you to move both side to side and front to back, but they also allow you to tilt the board in a circle (aka “around the world”).

Physical therapists often use balance boards in the rehabilitation of lower leg injuries — more specifically, ankle sprains. Balance boards are also a valuable training aid for preventing sports-related injuries and protecting against falls in people of all ages.

Additional benefits of using a balance board include:

• improved balance and coordination
• stronger lower leg muscles, especially the peroneals
• increased motor skills
• injury prevention, especially for the ankles
• help with injury rehabilitation
• improved posture