Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
VH

Our Location

(707) 206-0290

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • New Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • Insurance and Payments
  • About Us
    • Meet the Optometrist
  • Eyecare Services
    • Contact Lens Exams
    • Eye and Vision Exams
    • Lasik Eye Surgery
    • Hard to Fit Contacts
    • Computer Vision Treatment
    • Sports Vision
    • Sunglasses
  • Frames
    • Designer Frames
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
    • Appointment Request
  • Community Content
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Vision Therapy Programs >
  • Balance Board

Balance Board

  • Created in Vision Therapy Programs
person playing hopskotch

The brain and the eyes work together to create a visual experience. On one hand, the eyes send signals to the brain, which allows it to translate that data into visuals; on the other, the brain sends signals to the muscles attached to each eye, controlling their movements. If anything disrupts these signals and the brain, there may be problems with eye teaming, eye tracking, motor skills and learning. Balancing boards, or teetering boards, help with these components by retraining motor patterns and neurological links.

What to Expect In Treatment

During a vision therapy session that includes a balancing board, the patient stands—feet shoulder length apart—on the wobbly board that is able to move backwards, forwards and from side to side. Often, during the first session, the person is asked to start by balancing themselves forwards, backwards, right and left. This exercise allows the individual to learn how to adjust their balance and control their body. Coordinating the body is important because the coordination of the eyes rely on the body and brain’s ability to balance the entire body, thus learning to balance the body helps the eyes.

Once the patient has mastered adjusting their body on the board, they can then move on to other activities like using the board with a saccadic fixator, which is a wall-mounted square board with a starburst design. Along the various striations of the starburst are lighted buttons. As the buttons light up, the individual works quickly to see how many buttons they can push before the lights go out. The key in doing this activity is to keep the head still and the body steady while on the balancing board. Saccadic fixators and balance boards are used together to test, evaluate and develop eye-hand coordination, reaction times and spatial integration.

Additional Treatment Options

Another addition that may be used with a balancing board is a chart that is pinned to a wall. The patient is then required to track and locate letters and numbers in columns and rows while they are balancing at the same time.

Marsden balls may also be incorporated. Here, a ball with letters, numbers, colors, pictures, or a combination is hung from the ceiling. In activities used to help the patient focus their visual attention, they may be asked to focus on a figure while knocking the ball with a rod, or hitting or catching it with their palms, fists or thumbs. Again, in this vein, these activities are done while the patient is using a balancing board.

Over time, using balancing boards with other vision therapy programs can help in the following areas:

Cognitive

  • Learning fresh material
  • Sequencing information and data
  • Integrating sensory information

Visual

  • Eye tracking
  • Eye teaming

Motor

  • Rhythm
  • Handwriting
  • Speech
  • Coordination
  • Posture and gait

Having patients stand on a teetering board, or balancing board, as they look at objects and perform visual tasks helps the brain and eyes work better together so that they can do their jobs. Doing so helps the patient move better and adjust to performing tasks in their “real-world” environment, which is constantly moving or having them move while they think and use both their eyes and brain to assess and make sense of the things around them.

  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Age-Related
    • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Impairment
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Eye Lids
    • Changes in Appearance
  • Contact Lenses
  • Eye Diseases
  • Eyeglasses
    • Eyeglass Lenses
  • Eye Symptoms
  • How the Eyes Work
    • Basic Visual Skills
  • Pediatric Vision
  • Protecting Your Eyes
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Vision Problems
  • What is Vision Therapy
  • Vision Therapy Programs
  • We Can Help With
    • Cataracts
    • Corneal Disorders
      • Disorders
    • Glaucoma
    • Refractive Disorders
    • Adult Strabismus
    • Retinal Disorders
  • Newsletters
    • Glasses & Frames
    • Contacts
    • Tips for Healthy Eyes
    • Conditions That Affect Vision
    • Kid's Vision
    • Amazing, Interesting Eyes
    • Medical Perspectives

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you.

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Rohnert Park Office

Monday:

11:00 am-4:00 pm

Tuesday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Locations

Find us on the map

    No testimonials found. Please add

Featured Articles

  • April Newsletter: Tired of Contacts? Consider Orthokeratology.

    Wish you didn't have to wear your daily or monthly contact lenses? Orthokeratology can sharpen your vision. ...

    Read More
  • April Newsletter: Corneal Abrasion Could Lead to Infection. See Your Eye Doctor!

    Has something scratched your eye? A visit to the eye doctor could help you avoid a serious infection. ...

    Read More
  • March Newsletter: Are Your Eyes Getting Enough Vitamin D?

    Not getting enough of a key vitamin might increase your risk of several eye diseases. ...

    Read More
  • March Newsletter: Is Your Prescription Up to Date? What You Need to Know about When and Why You should See Your Optometrist

    Not sure when you need to see the eye doctor? ...

    Read More
  • Saccadic Fixators

    This entails a wall-mounted square board with a starburst design. Along the various striations of the starburst are lighted buttons. As the buttons light up, the patient works quickly to see how many of these lit buttons they can push before they go out. The key is to keep the head still. Peripheral ...

    Read More
  • Patches

    Eye patches are used to strengthen muscle control in weak eyes. By placing a patch over the strong eye, the weaker eye is forced to do the heavy lifting. While it may be uncomfortable for the patient at first, the muscle controlling the weaker eye will become tougher and more resilient. This will allow ...

    Read More
  • Rotation Trainers

    Rotation trainers consist of a disk – with various designs – that is attached to a rod-like base. As the disk rotates, the patient is asked to perform tasks that are designed to test and enhance eye-hand coordination, space awareness, perceptual awareness and visual acuity. ...

    Read More
  • Computer Software

    Computer aided vision therapy consists of a software package designed to enhance eye tracking skills, visual thinking, processing skills and binocular vision skills. Eye teaming, focusing and tracking are not optical in nature, and problems in these areas are the result of poor eye muscles. Specialized ...

    Read More
  • Prisms

    A prism has the same cross-section across the entire length of its shape. When used in eyeglasses, they often correct abnormalities associated with nearsightedness, farsightedness and double vision. Eyeglasses, or corrective lenses, reduce or increase the size of the image based on the eyes’ ability ...

    Read More
  • February Newsletter: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month

    Do you know how age-related macular degeneration could affect your vision? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Signup

Sign up for more articles!

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map