This Brilliant Device Helps Prevent Ankle Injuries And Falls
Today’s Topic Highlights:
Balance is an element of fitness training that does not receive enough attention.
The more acclimated we are to uneven or slippery surfaces, the less likely we are to endure an ankle injury or life changing fall.
Mini BOSU pods are the perfect exercise device for reducing fall risk and ankle injury likelihood.
BOSU stands for “both sides utilized”. You can perform various balance exercises on either side, which simulate various types of unstable terrain.
In addition to their functional usefulness, mini BOSU pods are inexpensive and very portable. They fit into the palm of your hand, weigh less than a pound, and cost only $35 for a pair.
Some pieces of exercise equipment are overhyped and overrated. Others are quite the opposite, under hyped and underrated. The mini BOSU pod is a perfect example of the latter. These unknown gems are balance improving, fall prevention devices that every aging individual should have in their home.
Balance is an element of fitness training that does not receive enough attention. Right now the exercise world is primarily focused on building and maintaining muscle mass for longevity. Generally speaking this is a good thing. However, it only takes one bad fall or ankle injury for someone’s strength training routine to be replaced by several weeks of rehab. Balance exercises help prevent those nightmares from happening.
This is where the mini BOSU pod steps in. You may be familiar with the ubiquitous BOSU half ball (seen below), which populates virtually every major gym in the country. BOSU stands for “both sides utilized”. You can perform various balance exercises on either side, which simulate various types of unstable terrain. The mini pods are a scaled down version of the large BOSU ball. I prefer these for older people because they are easier to use and more accurately reflect daily obstacles.
The pods have a soft, squishy texture designed to challenge our ankle’s ability to dynamically stabilize on uneven/unpredictable ground surfaces. They purposely generate a wobbly foot reaction upon being stepped on. This wobbliness is exactly what makes them so useful to exercise with. Controlled experiences with unstable surfaces prepare our foot/ankle complex for the real world. They mimic, in a more mild and controllable form, the same kinds of things we deal with every day.
Think of how many surfaces you encounter on any given day that are not perfectly flat. Golf course divots, uprooted sidewalk slabs, gravel driveways, and hiking trails are a few that come to mind.
Think also of how many surfaces you regularly encounter which are slippery. Ice, rain, leaves, wet grass, etc. The more acclimated we are to surfaces that can throw us off guard, the less likely we are to endure an ankle injury or life changing fall.
In addition to their functional usefulness, mini BOSU pods are inexpensive and very portable. They fit into the palm of your hand and weigh less than a pound. Mini BOSU pods are sold in packs of two and cost just $35 for a pair. Click here for a direct link to them on Amazon.
Below are 3 different exercises that can be performed with mini BOSU pods. You can practice these balance exercises either barefoot or with shoes on. I recommend doing both.