Your gym might have recommended you to try Bosu ball ab exercises. Perhaps, you came across about it, too, as you search for easy and effective ways to work out your stomach. So, what is a Bosu ball? Is it really effective and safe? And how different are Bosu ball ab excercises from ones using the generic stability balls us?
A Bosu ball looks like a normal stability ball cut in half and fitted with a round platform on the cut sides. The name “Bosu” is actually an acronym which stands for “both sides up,” since it can be used inflated side up, or flat side up. Working out on a Bosu ball will force you to maintain your center of gravity over a surface that is constantly changing, and thus develop your stability and balance. It’s been said that doing Bosu ball ab exercises or balance trainings help with and developing core strength. It’s actually a relatively new hype in the fitness industry, and lots of instructional materials on how to do varieties of Bosu ball exercises or bosu ball core exercises or yoga are all over the web.
Most fitness experts, however, find this device not too effective in both things it promised. It doesn’t and will not develop one’s stability and balance since these traits are genetically acquired. If one sees a development in his balance while using a Bosu ball, it just means that he succeeded in balancing only on the ball. It doesn’t necessarily mean that he can immediately try gymnastics or try snowboarding after. Balancing on the ball will not carry over your overall balance onto other activities.
Another thing about Bosu balls is that it doesn’t improve core strength. Not only is it useless, but it is a complete waste of time. In other words, performing Bosu ball ab exercises like squats or overhead presses will not show elevated “core” activity. Performing these exercises on solid ground or with a Bosu Ball doesn’t make any difference, since your core muscles won’t work and harder. In fact, you don’t need to exercise to develop your core muscles since they receive plenty of work any time the body needs support. This means that you can do other normal lifting exercises and the core muscles will still get a work out.
Burn Fats with Bosu Ball Ab Exercises
Bosu Balls are also said to burn fewer calories than doing exercises on flat surfaces. The body needs resistance or stress in order to burn calories; working out on a Bosu ball might just be too easy for you so you also don’t get any result. It will also make you weaker since gaining strength requires you to exert more force. By training on an unstable surface, you only limit the amount of force you can generate in any given exercise.
Bosu Balls are still good for ankle and knee rehabilitation, though. Performing exercises on a BOSU Balance Trainer increases the range of motion in the knee foot and ankle as they pronate on the ball and give your lower muscles more tension.
Get Fit with Bosu Ball Ab Exercises
So you see? You can’t really find a shortcut in gaining a healthy body. A work out means, actually working hard in keeping your body really fit. So cross out the Bosu ball ab exercises routine of your schedule and start doing some serious crunches!