First of all, who are all these people who get sent a free $20 balance board? And why are all the reviews by paid testers on ALL the cheap balance boards (which I am 90% sure are all the same product, at least the wooden ones, rebranded)?
Anyways. I thought I'd write a review because nobody talks about whether these things work for standing desks. I looked, and couldn't find a satisfactory answer.
I got a Steppie instead, for $100, and was disappointed--too easy to stand on, as it only moves side to side. I didn't end up moving. It was okay, but didn't help a lot. Maybe good for folks with poor balance. I'm young and pretty athletic, and wasn't challenged. I got one of these afterwards--it was cheap, figured I didn't have much to lose--and it actually works great. I work between 4-6 hours a day on it, and am in significantly less pain by the end of the day than when I was just standing or using the Steppie. It isn't a work of art--it's just plywood with a balance thing screwed to the bottom--but it's comfortable to stand on in bare feet or shoes, and looks like it'll hold up fine. So--yeah. I'd try this if you're looking for a standing desk solution on a budget.
And also, I looked at all the brands that sell these plywood balance boards--I'm nearly sure they're all the same thing.
Rehab is a tiring, long experience, but it's necessary if I want to experience a full recovery. I purchased this balance board for use at home to assist with my high ankle sprain recovery. I went back and forth between this style and the inflatable style. I'm glad that I decided on this board.
Right now, I'm not standing on it or working on my balance, but rather, I'm using it as a way to strengthen my muscles, ligaments, and tendons while also working on achieving better flexibility. Because I have small feet, the 15 1/2" diameter provides a lot of flexibility on foot placement which means that I can get a deeper stretch depending on where I place my foot on the board. I can work on front to back motion as well as side to side motion.
The non-slip feature provides plenty of traction. Because I'm working on flexation, I don't wear shoes while exercising. I don't have an issue with the sandpaper feel on my feet, but if your feet are really sensitive, you'll either want to wear socks or shoes.
When perfectly level, the top of the board is 3" off the ground. It's a good height without being too high. It works well on carpet, but it slides on tile/hardwood. I just use a yoga pad under the board when I'm not using it on carpet.
The balance board is durable and is holding up well to daily use.
I purchased this balance board at full price as I needed it for my rehab.
I bought this so I could get micro movements while working at my standup desk. While I still dream of a "Wurf Board" this one is a fraction of the cost, and ti does everything I wanted. I want to keep some movement while standing. After all, you can stand with bad posture just as easily as you can sit with bad posture. :-)
I originally bought a Simply Fit Board, but I found that it was just too easy to balance on it. After an initial few seconds, I could be completely balanced and hardly move, so I wasn't getting the micro movements I wanted. However, I did find it kind of fun to bounce on it...
I then bought the Yes4All Wobble Balance Board. I don't have much trouble getting balanced on it, but it is easy to keep it moving. And although I can create lots of movement, I am able to maintain balance in my upper body, so tasks like typing are still easily accomplished.
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to add some movement while still be productive at a standing desk, I recommend the Yes4All.
Wonderful for working at a standing desk. I stand on it all day long. My feet don't get tired, I don't get bored, and I can't stay in a bad position for long. Working this way has reduced my back and knee pain and increased my concentration.
Note that in the first few days it will seem too difficult and too distracting to stay balanced on the board. You might even get slightly sore legs from using those long-forgotten muscles. What worked for me was to start from an hour on the board per day, then increase gradually, so that within 3 days I no longer felt any soreness and within a week I could stand on the board for 8 hours straight. Take it easy.
At a local health fair, I had my balance tested and rated about the same as the average 90 year old woman! That is 30 years older than I actually am, and I knew it was time to improve in that area. This is sturdy and challenging, and is an excellent addition to my daily exercise routine and I have found that it not only improves my balance, it also tones my core.
So, for an inexpensive and effective anti-aging tool, I recommend a balance board, and this one is sturdy and well made.
Feature Product
- DURABLE WOOD CONSTRUCTION WITH PLASTIC BOTTOM supports up to 300 lbs, offering 360 rotating degrees and up to 15 tilting degrees - great to perform side-to-side, front-to-back, stretch & circular drills
- ULTIMATE EQUIPMENT FOR BALANCE TRAINING: Improves core strength, posture, enhances coordination, sense of balance and visual sense. Great to strengthen the targeted muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints
- IMPECCABLY MADE RESISTANCE LOOP BANDS: highest quality 100% latex material supplies snap, stretch and wear resistant properties while being comfortable, soft and easy on the skin
- 5 DIFFERENT RESISTANCE LEVELS FOR A MULTITUDE OF EXERCISES: X-Light 2-4 lbs, Light 6-8 lbs, Medium 10-12 lbs, Red 15-20 lbs, X-Heavy 25-30 lbs to add variety to workout routines, boost stamina, flexibility and range of motion
- NOW COME IN A COMBO THAT ROCK YOUR FITNESS WORLD: Train separately or challenge yourself by combining the two and see how your body transforms!
Description
GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR FITNESS ROUTINES Yes4All Balance Board fits all ages and fitness levels. It is a great choice for anyone who wants to improve their core strength, stability, functionality, and sense of balance for better sport performance. Using balance board can engage and train stabilizing muscles of your back, abdominal, hips, legs and ankles thus help to reduce back pain, improve posture, leg strength and ankle range of motion. Great to use after leg, knee, angle injury and surgery to boost the rehabilitation and reduce the risk of re-injuries. FITNESS NON-SLIP WOODEN BALANCE BOARD (15.75-INCH DIAMETER) High quality board with the non-skid surface prevents slipping or falling out of the board. You can easily stand on the board barefoot, but shoes with anti-slip soles help provide even better grip. Perform side-to-side, front-to-back, stretch & circular drills. Also, balance board adds more challenges to your workout, which helps you to increase your balance, functionality and visual sense. When you master all the skills, you can try practicing balance board with your eyes closed. Portable and lightweight board that is easy to take when traveling. Great for commercial rehabilitation centers, gyms, professional athletes and individual use SPECIFICATIONS Diameter: 15.75” Height: 3” Max Weight Capacity: 300 lbs Balance Board Thickness: 0.7” Material: Solid Wood Colors: Black, Red, Blue, Purple, Gray Skill Level: Beginner to Pro Suitable for Indoor/Outdoor Use
I have a standing desk at work. When I stand on my anti-fatigue mat, I can only stand for 30-45 minutes before feeling uncomfortable. When I stand on the wobble balance board, I can stand for 2-3 hours comfortably and I feel more awake than when I sit or stand. I assume the wobble board helps move blood through my leg blood vessels, and maintain a healthier posture. I poked around for scientific studies surrounding the benefits of wobble boards vs. sitting vs. standing for extended periods of time, but unfortunately no one has studied this (please comment if you find one!). The following is an explanation from a Reddit forum thread about why walking is more comfortable than standing:
"Basically, when you are standing, blood flow slows and "pools" in your legs due to gravity. But when you walk, your muscles contract and push the blood in your veins and vessels back up into your upper body.
On the side note, seasoned military personnels are able to stand at ease for long periods of time because they are actually swaying back and forth very slowly in micro-movements to contract their muscles and relieve the tingling and numb sensation you get when you keep standing for long periods of time."
In conclusion, I've had this product for about 9 months and I would buy it again. It's improved my well-being and I highly recommend it. One consideration is height: I'm 5'6" and the height of the board is fine when my standing desk is at maximal height. If I were a couple inches taller it would be an issue.
Holy cow, this balance board is exactly what I needed! I am lucky enough to have an adjustable standing desk at work where I am on the computer for 6-8 hours a day. I was having trouble with lower back pain from having sat in a chair for so many years, and my PT figured out that I had a tight right piriformis, shortened right psoas and, as a result, a weak core. She had me doing lots of stretches and exercises on this board at her clinic, so it seemed like a good idea to try it out at work. This board is perfect for standing on at my desk. It is just difficult enough to engage my glutes and core but easy enough that I can type without feeling like I’m going to fall and hurt myself. I strongly recommend it for anyone who wants to be able to maintain strength, balance and flexibility even with a desk job.
Love this ! , ! I orginally got this to help me with my balance. I'm 74 and had to spend time in bed because of an injury. I used this and noticed a differenc the first day. Dr. Has me taking it slow and easy but so glad I found this.
Good product, built well, but because the bottom is hard its a FAST balancing board and takes time to get used to.
I'd say this is more for Intermediate -> Advanced balancing. Beginner balancing should use the flat blue mats, graduating to the half rubber ball, then this.
I work in home health physical therapy and wanted this to work on ankle range of motion and balance with my patients. I trusted the positive reviews and ordered it on daily deal. There are a few things I really like about this board. First, the grip decal is on the entirety of the standing surface, not just on the colored portions. This makes it more safe than if it were designed with less grip and easier to disinfect without causing the adhesive to weaken. Second, it’s well finished with nicely sanded edges that won’t catch on hems, slippers or fragile skin. There are also eight attachment points on the base to the convex floor part, so the likelihood of screws shearing and patients falling due to board failure is almost nil.
I’m pleased with the quality of this product and look forward to using it in practice. Thanks!