7 Best Balance Boards For Physical Therapy Buyers Guide
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During a physical therapy treatment, you may need to perform specific exercises to help you strengthen your body using a special piece of equipment, a balance board. In this guide, I’ll highlight the 7 best balance boards for physical therapy.
| Image | Name | Deck Dimensions | Weight Limit | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | StrongTek Rocker Board | 23.5″ × 15.75″ × 4″ | 350 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
 | P&BEXC | 17.5″ × 13.5″ | 350 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
 | Blue Planet Rocker Board | 25″ × 12.25″ | 500 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
 | Yes4All Wooden Wobble Board | 15.75″ diameter | 300 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
 | Yes4All Wobble Board | 16.34″ diameter | 300 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
 | NALANDA Wobble Board | 16.34″ diameter | 660 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
 | Yes4All Multifunctional Balance Trainer | 29″ × 11″ | 300 lbs | Check prices on Amazon |
StrongTek Rocker Board
Key features
- Good beginner’s choice
- Weight limit up to 350 lbs
- Doesn’t have moving parts
- Made out of heavy-duty plywood
- Has anti-slip/anti-scratch pads on the bottom
The first board on the list is StrongTek Rocker Board. It is one of the easiest boards, to begin with. It is a rocker board so which means it has no moving parts thus making it a good choice for beginners.
The top of the board features an easy-grip surface that’s gentle on bare feet but helps keep you in place safely and securely.
StrongTek Rocker Board is made out of heavy-duty plywood with long-lasting strength and durability to hold kids and adults up to 350 lbs.
The unique anti-slip pads on the bottom of the board provide great protection for your floor and don’t produce much noise.
This board is great for physical therapy to train overall balance and stability, physical strength, and endurance.
| Deck dimensions | 23.5 × 15.75 × 4 in (60 × 40 × 10 cm) |
| Item Weight | 5 lbs (2.3 kg) |
| Weight Limit | 350 lbs (158 kg) |
| Material | Heavy-duty plywood |
P&BEXC Wooden Balance Board
Key features
- Good beginner’s choice
- Weight limit up to 350 lbs
- Doesn’t have moving parts
- Made out of heavy-duty plywood
- Has anti-slip/anti-scratch pads on the bottom
The P&BEXC wooden balance board is designed with an extra-large dimension ( 17.5” x 13.5” x 3” ). This balance board can hold kids and adults up to 350 lbs. This is ideal for beginners.
The surface of the balance board is made of high-quality non-slip materials, which can effectively protect your feet. Even barefoot will feel very gentle, so you don’t have to worry about slipping.
The bottom adopts a high-quality anti-skid design to maximize the safety of users. The high-quality wood and high-strength anti-skid pad will not harm the floor and carpet.
| Deck dimensions | 17.5 × 13.5 × 3.6 in ( cm) |
| Item Weight | 5.21 lbs (kg) |
| Weight Limit | 350 lbs (kg) |
| Material | Hardwood plywood |
Blue Planet Wooden Balance Board Trainer
Key features
- Good beginner’s choice
- Weight limit up to 500 lbs
- Doesn’t have moving parts
- Has a choice of grip surface
- Has a 3-in-1 design (removable modules)
Awesome multipurpose balance board that is well suited for beginners. Even though this is a rocker balance board it features a 3-in-1 design, which makes this model stand out from the rest in the category.
What makes this board unique is the special attachable fulcrums or as they’re called modules. The board can be used with or without the modules, offering various difficulty levels.
Blue Planet balance board comes in 3 different deck grips so you can find your perfect traction: EVA Foam, ideal for barefoot use, Clear Skate, or Black Skate Grip. The deck is 25″ wide and has curved upends like a skateboard.
The bottom of the board features anti-slip pads that provide protection for your floor and don’t produce noise. A great choice for the ones that feel comfortable on a rocker balance board and want to step up to the next difficulty level.
| Deck size | 25 × 12.25 in (63 × 31 cm) |
| Item Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) |
| Weight Limit | 500 lbs (226 kg) |
| Material | Bamboo/plywood |
Yes4All Wooden Wobble Board
Key features
- Weight limit up to 300 lbs
- Doesn’t have moving parts
- 360-degree rotation and 15-degree tilt angle
Possibly the most popular wobble board on the market. A good balance of quality, features, and overall price.
Yes4All wobble balance board with an anti-skid pad on the surface provides a secure grip for absolute safety. 15.75-inch diameter is large enough for both feet. Support up to 300 lbs.
360 degrees rotation and up to 15 tilting degrees, great to perform side-to-side, front-to-back, stretch, and circular drills.
With its lightweight, portable design, this balance board is great for balance exercises, home gyms, gyms, sports performance enhancement, rehabilitation, strength, and balance workouts.
Designed with a portable size so that you can carry it anywhere for quick workouts at home, or the gym or you can take it to the office and use it under your standing desk.
| Deck | Solid Wood material |
| Fulcrum | Plastic, 3″ |
| Size | 15.75″ diameter |
| Surface | Non-skidding surface |
| Weight Limit | 300 lbs |
Yes4All Wobble Board
Key features
- Has handles
- Moves 360 degrees
- Good beginner’s choice
- Weight limit up to 300 lbs
- Has an anti-slip massage surface
- Doesn’t have moving parts
This Yes4All balance board is the wobble board type, which means that it can tilt and rotate 360 degrees. Wobble boards can be slightly harder to balance than rocker boards.
It’s made with high-grade heavy-duty TPE plastic, and the platform is sturdy and supports up to 300 lbs. The top has a large textured surface to prevent you from slipping and additionally massages your feet. You can stand comfortably both barefoot and with shoes.
The bottom is a semi-sphere that is made out of sturdy plastic with spikes to add more safety use and durability. This type of bottom will ensure the safe and stable movement of the board.
Unlike other balance boards, the design of this board allows one to wash it safely with water. So you can always keep it clean and tidy.
Yes4All has two handles on the sides which makes it it is easy to transport, so you can use it almost anywhere throughout your home. It can also be taken to the gym or therapy room.
| Materials | Heavy-duty TPE plastic |
| Height | 3.5″ (8.9 cm) |
| Size | 16.34″ (41.1 cm) diameter |
| Section Angle | 27° |
| Surface | Spikes at the surface to prevent slipping |
| Weight Limit | 300 lbs (136 kg) |
NALANDA Wobble Board
Key features
- Has handles
- Moves 360 degrees
- Good beginner’s choice
- Weight limit up to 660 lbs
- Has an anti-slip massage surface
- Doesn’t have moving parts
The NALANDA balance board is also the wobble board type, which means that it can tilt and rotate 360 degrees. Wobble boards can be slightly harder to balance than rocker boards.
It’s made of high-quality environmentally friendly PP and TPE material, which is completely non-toxic. This board is able to hold up to 660 lbs.
It features an anti-slip massage surface that provides better traction and grip, and you can comfortably stand with shoes or barefoot.
Unlike other balance boards, the design of this board allows one to wash it safely with water. So you can always keep it clean and tidy.
NALANDA has two handles on the sides which makes it it is easy to transport, so you can use it almost anywhere throughout your home. It can also be taken to the gym or therapy room.
| Materials | Stable PP Base and Anti-slip TPE Bottom |
| Height | 3.75″ (9.5 cm) |
| Size | 16.34″ (41.1 cm) diameter |
| Section angle | 24.5° |
| Surface | No-slip grooved surface |
| Weight Limit | 660 lbs (300 kg) |
Yes4All Multifunctional Balance Trainer
Key features
- Good price for a set
- Has 3 difficulty levels
- Offers a wide variety of exercises
Yes4All is a well-known fitness brand, which produces tons of high-quality sports and fitness equipment. One of their most popular products is the Yes4All balance board.
Yes4All Balance Board Trainer fits all ages & fitness levels. A hardwood balance board with a PEVA surface prevents slipping or falling. You can easily stand on the board barefoot, but shoes with anti-slip soles help provide an even better grip.
Bombproof construction with two added stoppers is designed to help you perform the hardest exercises. You can easily adjust the difficulty of your exercises with 3 different distance options 11, 16, & 22 inches. With the 11″ for beginners.
The full set includes a wooden roller (with an anti-slip TPE cover), a rocker, and an air cushion. The roller works great on different types of flooring, including wood, carpet, cork, and concrete. The rocker base is made from high-density foam and is extremely lightweight. And the Air-cushion is inflatable.
With all the features this is one of the best choices for what it offers. The rocker base and air cushion are easy options and provide much more exercise range. The roller is an advanced option but can be used in physical therapy with a good level of preparation or under guidance.
| Deck Size | 29″ x 11″ (73.6 x 28 cm) |
| Weight limit | 300 lbs (136 kg) |
| Roller size | 21.3″ x 4″ in (54 x 10 cm) |
| Colors | Full Black, Gray/Black, Army Green, Pop Shuvit |
How are balance boards used in physical therapy?
First of all, a balance board is a piece of equipment to train balance, however, it can be considered multipurpose physical therapy equipment as well. Many doctors and medical institutions use balance boards in their treatment programs.
That said, if you use it properly and perform specific exercises it can help you improve core strength, balance, and stability. Unlike static exercises balance board is engaging more muscle groups and puts additional load on these muscles.
What are the benefits of using a balance board?
By training on a daily basis, you can gain and improve the:
- Core strength;
- Balance;
- Coordination;
- Muscle memory;
- Ankle mobility;
- Agility.
Many professional athletes use balance boards in their exercises and workout. As well as different medical institutions and rehab centers use balance boards to help people restore strength, balance, and mobility.
Risks of using a balance board
A word of caution must be said. Like in any sport, a certain level of risk is involved when exercising on a balance board. The board might slip out from under your feet, and go off balance. To avoid any serious injuries keep in mind these few simple tips:
- Always ensure a safe environment:
- Make sure there’s enough space around you;
- There’s a soft and dry surface under your board.
- Make sure your health and physical conditions are in proper shape;
- Ask someone to watch you or assist you if you are a beginner;
- Start small and progress over time.
How to choose a balance board for physical therapy?
There are different types of balance boards, each with its own traits and for a different purpose. Generally speaking, the main purpose is to improve your balance and coordination.
When choosing the right balance board for physical therapy you have to look out for the following features:
- Size
- Materials
- Rocker type
- Price
Size
The size of the balance board deck is going to affect the way you feel and control the board.
Balance boards come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Usually the longer the deck is, the wider your stance can be.
The shape can affect the difficulty, e.g. some shapes are mellow and easy to control, while others are more angled and thus more challenging.
Things to look out for:
- the size of the board has to be large enough in order to position yourself comfortably;
- the deck has to be sturdy and durable;
- the top of the deck has to be covered in grip tape or an anti-slip surface.
Materials
The balance board for a standing desk has to be sturdy and durable. That’s why you have to look out for materials the board is made out of.
High-quality materials will ensure the balance board will retain its looks in the long run as well as endure everything that comes it’s way.
Things to look out for:
- high-quality multi-ply wooden or PVC deck (check weight limit);
- good grip yet comfortable anti-slip surface on top (possibility to use barefoot);
- soft materials on the bottom (anti-scratch and quiet).
Rocker type
Rocker type is another property to look out for. You can choose either a rocker or a wobble-type balance board. Both rocker and wobble can differ by a number of options starting from shape and ending with a material.
Different rockers and wobblers provide different levels of complexity when it comes to maintaining a balance. This is possibly one of the main features to look out for when choosing between different balance boards for physical therapy.
Last but not least is the height and shape of the rocker. It is going to affect how easy or hard it will be to maintain the balance on the board.
Things to look out for:
- the roller has to move smoothly underneath the board;
- the wobbler has to be mellow in shape to move smoothly.
Price
Of course, last but not least is the price. You have to perform a simple market analysis to find the best board to match your budget.
Conclusion
If your goal is to improve your overall physique and train balance and coordination, then the balance board is a great piece of equipment for you.
They are light and small in size as compared to other pieces of fitness equipment. And it is a fun yet challenging way to diversify your PT treatment routine.
This list of the 7 best balance boards for physical therapy was composed of various types of boards, to give you an idea of how different they can be and possibly make the best choice for yourself.
NOTE: The tips provided in this article are not medical advice. Make sure to consult with your doctor or physician about balance board usage.