Stability Ball Fitness Training in London
A brief history
SWISS BALL LONDON
Swiss Balls One of the most versatile pieces of equipment used today by conditioning professionals is the Swiss Ball (i.e. “Swiss balls”, “Fit-balls”, “Physio balls”, etc.). SB’s have had long-standing success in the world of clinical rehabilitation. However, due to their effectiveness in developing balance and core strength, athletic trainers, coaches, personal trainers and physical education teachers have begun to integrate them into their programs. Now they are the new craze in the world of athletic and functional conditioning.
The forward ball roll on swills ball
The history of the SB originates:
back to the early 1960s. It was made by an Italian toy maker, Aquilino Cosani, and sold primarily in Europe as the Gymnastik. In 1981 Cosign started a new company, Gymnic. These two companies are still in Italy and are the major suppliers of Swiss Ball throughout the world.
use Swiss to help with lower back pain
The SB’s clinical application by Dr. Susan Klein-Vogelbach, a Swiss PT, can be traced back the 1960’s. Through a series of classes, seminars and clinical workshops, the SB made its way to the San Francisco area in the 1980’s. Since the 1980’s, the SB has slowly gone from the rehabilitation setting into the fitness and athletic arena. Paul Chek, NMT was one of the pioneers in evolution of the stability ball as a performance enhancement tool. He was one of the first to use the SB, in the late 1980s, to rehabilitate and condition elite athletes. Due the SB’s success and growing popularity, the last decade has seen the birth of various programs developed to educate professionals on their use.
In Europe, SBs have been used in schools as chairs. The benefit of this type of application has reported as; improved focus, concentration, handwriting skills, better understanding of class material, and better organizationals skills. There are several pilot studies in the US using the SB in schools. The preliminary data is consistent with that found in Europe.
A note on history!!!
In our field of strength and conditioning, we often come across individuals who want to lay claim to ideas and methods. These individuals, suffering from the ‘I was the first person to do this exercise’ syndrome, believe that because they have come up with an ‘original’ idea, they were the first to ‘invent’ it – obviously not the same thing.
The use of ball balancing can be traced back to the circus, and probably before that. Im currently working with the Circus World Museum to obtain a brief history and any pictures that may be available on the use of ball balance. I will pass them along as I receive them.
Diversity of settings, populations and applications:
Swiss Ball fitness Personal Training London
Once limited to the rehabilitation and clinical setting:
The Swiss Ball has permeated to all sectors of the health and fitness community. In clinics they are still used to provide gentle proprioceptive stimuli for individuals recovering from surgery. Scott. says,”The Swiss Balls we have found probably to be our most versatile piece of equipment. It’s fun, it’s and everybody from our pediatric patients to our geriatric patients literally find the SB to be something unique and that they can generate some enthusiasm about. The unique thing about the Swiss balls is that they utilised the neuromuscular system in a way that no other exercise equipment I have come across has. That is that they incorporate the use of corrective exercise.
Why use a Swiss Ball in your exercise program:
Using a Swiss Ball (also known as a stability ball, exercise ball, or physioball) in your exercise program offers a range of benefits that enhance the effectiveness of your workouts. Here are some key reasons to incorporate a Swiss Ball into your fitness routine:
- Improves Core Strength: Exercising on an unstable surface like a Swiss Ball engages your core muscles more effectively than exercising on a stable surface. This helps strengthen your abdominal muscles, lower back, and obliques, leading to improved core stability.
- Enhances Balance and Stability: Working out with a Swiss Ball challenges your balance and coordination, which helps improve overall body stability. This is beneficial for everyday activities and can reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
- Increases Muscle Activation: The instability of the ball forces your muscles to work harder to maintain balance, leading to increased muscle activation. This can result in more efficient workouts and better muscle tone.
- Supports Flexibility and Mobility: Swiss Ball exercises often involve a greater range of motion than traditional exercises. This helps improve flexibility and joint mobility, which is essential for overall fitness and injury prevention.
- Provides Versatility: A Swiss Ball can be used for a wide variety of exercises targeting different muscle groups. It can be used for strength training, stretching, balance exercises, and even cardio workouts.
- Reduces Back Pain: Using a Swiss Ball for exercises and even as a chair can help improve posture and reduce lower back pain. The ball encourages proper spinal alignment and activates the stabilizing muscles of the spine.
- Engages Multiple Muscle Groups: Many Swiss Ball exercises are compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. This makes your workouts more efficient and effective, helping you achieve your fitness goals faster.
- Improves Posture: Regularly using a Swiss Ball can help improve your posture by strengthening the muscles that support proper alignment. This is especially beneficial for individuals who spend long hours sitting at a desk.
- Fun and Motivating: Working out with a Swiss Ball can add variety to your exercise routine, making workouts more enjoyable and motivating. This can help you stay consistent with your fitness regimen.
Incorporating a Swiss Ball into your exercise program can provide these benefits and more, making it a valuable tool for enhancing your overall fitness and well-being.
the cooer body Russian twist on Swiss ball
Multiple muscle systems
Neurologically induced muscular responses
A normal and natural process of balance
The body’s own normal processes, to establish and restore balance.
From the clinical setting, the Swiss Ball made its way to the sports arena in the 1990’s. Therapists with athletic backgrounds, such as Paul Chek, realized that the SB could be applied more aggressively to actually enhance the performance of athletes. Now, the stability ball can be found in just about every professional strength facility. Articles with the likes of Paul Chek using the stability ball, have made their way into conditioning magazines, furthering the Swiss B’alls popularity.
The Swiss ball crunch.
As the popularity of the SB grew:
it also started to make its way into fitness conferences. As professionals using the SB delivered educational presentations, personal trainers immediately saw it as a tool to enhance client interest and performance. Personal trainers have now brought the Swiss Balls into commercial training facilities. Articles in popular fitness magazines also started to appear at an increasing rate, creating the increased awareness we see today. Just about every commercial gym I go into now has at least one stability ball. Some have even developed group classes.
Due to the stability ball’s popularity within the rehabilitation and fitness industry, they have made their way into the private sector. Although the initial home use might have been rehabilitation, the stability ball is now used by many as a chair for their office, for regular strength training, and for play. Most, if not all, of my clients have them at home and regularly use them to keep their core functioning at its optimum. My clients also report that any one, who comes into a room where the Swiss Balls is, ends up asking questions about the SB, as they sit and begin to play on it. They are a natural for fun and play!
Balance on top of swill ball for golf stability
The next section of this series will deal with the science and practice behind the SB. We will look into the scientific efficacy behind the SB and compare that to anecdotal observations we practitioners are experiencing. Following sections will deal with exercises selection and program.
top of Swiss ball for help with lower back pain and balance.
Here is some more of Scott’s exercise blogs:
- 10 Kettlebell Fat Loss Exercise:For Home Program Battersea in London
- Medicine Ball Workout: Why It’s Perfect For Your Program
- TRX Suspension Fitness Training Battersea in London
- Dumbbell Weight Training: Personal Trainer Battersea in London
- Strength Coach Be Stronger Lift More Battersea London
Scott bryant master CHEK practitioner level 5 London.
The Swiss ball is an effective workout for burning fat and helping you to achieve your fitness goals. It makes the perfect addition to any program. If you’re based in London and looking for a personal trainer to help tailor your medicine ball workout to your needs, Scott is the man for you. With over 25 years of personal training experience, Scott’s holistic approach to fitness will guarantee you long-term results. A master certified level four CHEK practitioner, level 5 Scott has the knowledge to help you make realistic lifestyle changes to help you achieve your goal. Want to get the body of your dreams? Contact Scott now to make your dreams a reality.07841144878 o live chat on web site.