Core Stability Training – Buyer’s Guide
Core Stability Training is an exercise programme designed to improve stabilisation and support to the spine, by strengthening specific trunk muscles, which tend to be under-used. Greater core stability gives your back more support and reduces the risk of back injury, while providing a more stable base for arm and leg movements, improving the quality of your movements. As your core stability improves, your muscle co-ordination during movement is enhanced and your technique is less affected by fatigue.
This Buyer’s Guide will help you to choose the best products to help you to improve your core stability.
The Swiss Ball (also known as a gym ball, physio ball or fit ball) is a versatile fitness tool that can be used for core strength, core stability, stretching, yoga and Pilates type exercises. All these exercises improve your posture and strengthen the back muscles, preventing low back pain. The mere act of sitting on a stabilised Swiss Ball can promote good posture. Once you have a back injury or are suffering from back pain, the Swiss Ball can be used in the home to relieve the symptoms of low back pain, sciatica, herniated disc, facet syndrome, posture-related back ache and sacro iliac joint dysfunction.
Swiss Balls are inflatable, anti-burst spheres that are available in a variety of colours and sizes. The size of Swiss Ball that you choose - 55cm, 65cm or 75cm diameter – depends on your height. There is also a peanut-shaped ‘ball’ for users who experience balance problems. The inflatable ‘peanut’ can be used for exercise therapy in exactly the same way as a Swiss Ball but, because it moves less easily, is ideal if you have difficulty in holding your balance.
Swiss Balls (Gym Balls) Product Range
Latex-free medicine balls vary in weight from 500g up to 5kg. The small medicine balls, designed to fit in your hand, are made of rubber. The larger medicine balls can be filled with air, water or sand to increase their weight, to be used for strengthening exercises that require two hands. Medicine balls are ideal for core strength drills, power exercises and plyometric workouts that develop core strength and core stability. Training bowls are bowling ball-sized spheres, with handles, which can be filled with air, water or sand for extra weight. A versatile alternative to dumb bells, training bowls are used for strength drills and power exercises.
This category also features a number of other products that will help develop your core strength, improve your posture and develop flexibility. The products include a soft gym exercise ball, a firm spiky ball, a ‘magic circle’ resistance band, a ‘movin’ step’ and a core balance dome.
Medicine Balls and Training Bowls Product Range
A lightweight, soft Exercise Mat provides a non-slip, comfortable surface for any home fitness programme and can be used as a gym mat, Pilates mat or yoga mat. If you are performing strengthening or core stability exercises on a hard surface, an exercise mat is essential for your safety and comfort. Folding or roll-up exercise mats are a good choice as, being easy to store and transport, they are perfect for use in the home or at the gym.
Exercise Mats Product Range
The Chattanooga Stabiliser Pressure Feedback is a useful device that provides a visual indication of whether you are working the correct postural muscles, in the right manner, when performing specific core strength exercises. By using the Chattanooga Stabiliser Pressure Feedback to improve your postural or 'core stability' muscles in this way, you greatly improve spinal stability and reduce the likelihood of back injury.
Training Aids Product Range
