The Evolution Of Stability Ball Training - BOSU Ballast Ball Mode D'emploi

THE EVOLUTION OF STABILITY BALL TRAINING

The stability ball is one of the most versatile pieces of exercise equipment used
today and can be found in most gyms and physical rehabilitation centers all over the
world. The popularity of the stability ball did not occur overnight. Rather, it has been
growing steadily for more than forty years.
Stability ball training as we know it today began in the 1960's in Switzerland. At that
time, an Italian toy maker named Aquilino Cosani started making large vinyl balls
for Swiss physical therapists to use in place of the stability ball's ancestor, the soft
beach ball. The new vinyl balls provided a better training tool and facilitated better
balance reactions and movement patterns than the earlier soft beach balls.
Over the years, many attempts have been made to increase the stability of the ball.
Balls have been molded with "stabilizing" rubber legs. Numerous manufacturers
have created an array of stabilizing base units on which to rest the ball. All of these
solutions, however, have an inherent problem. The ball must remain fixed in one
position for it to remain stable. The increased stability tends to be an "all or nothing"
solution, negating many of the benefits of the instability of the ball in the first place.
These solutions have been less than ideal which is why they are not extensively
used in training.
The Ballast Ball marks the next major step forward in the evolution of stability
®
ball training. MDL, which stands for Multi-Dimensional Load, provides unique
advantages over all other stability balls. This simple, yet profound, innovation not only
increases the convenience of using the ball, but also significantly expands its
useful applications.
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