You’ve probably heard of powerball before . This wonderful product is mentioned lately in advertisements on the Internet, television or sports stores. In fact, its popularity has grown so much that you may know at least one person who has bought one.
The reason behind the success of the powerball is that it promises to increase the strength in the arms of the people who use it . However, this is only the function that it has on a personal level, but it is not the only one, since the most important impact that the powerball has is in the field of physiotherapy .
What is the powerball ?
In simple terms it is a high precision gyroscope that works by centrifugal force . This type of force is the one that is produced due to the rotation of a body that moves away from its axis, causing an inertial effect. Through this force it is possible to use this device to exercise the muscles of the hand.
Regarding the manufacturing materials, the sphere is usually made of polycarbonate and inside it there is a rotating rotor .
The powerball in rehab
Although the name powerball refers to the original product, the truth is that there are currently different models and brands available on the market. Among the different models it is possible to find different characteristics . Some have an LCD speed meter, variation in manufacturing materials, rotor lights and automatic start, among other functions.
However, there are also aspects that they have in common, which cannot vary too much, since the usefulness of the powerball as a tool for rehabilitation could be reduced. Among these aspects is weight, which usually ranges between eighteen and twenty-two kilograms . In addition, the force also usually oscillates the eleven kilograms and ten thousand revolutions per minute.
It should be noted that this device does not adversely affect the joints of the shoulder, wrist, elbow or fingers, since the frequency with which the vibration occurs is quite low. Therefore, it is safe as a therapeutic tool .
On the other hand, one of its great advantages is that it is a product that has a low cost and is easy to use. Therefore, its use is not limited to rehabilitation sessions, but can also be used to exercise at home .
Functioning
For the precision gyroscope to work, random forces are required in multiple directions, requiring a high level of muscle control as the sphere rotates . This allows you to train your wrist muscle strength and neuromuscular efficiency at the same time.
In this sense, it is not only a device that stimulates the muscles, but also the ability of the nervous system to properly recruit muscles when necessary to increase or decrease strength and to maintain muscle stability during movement .
The way the powerball starts to work varies from one model to another. In some models the starting is manual and in others automatic. When the gyroscope is spinning it is necessary to make slow circular movements with the wrist while holding the sphere. If you increase the speed with which your wrist moves, the speed of the gyroscope also increases, resulting in greater resistance.
Due to its movement, this device forces the muscles of the forearm, arm and wrist to react in an unpredictable way to the force produced by the gyroscope. This results in stimulation of proprioception and strong muscle contractions, which can help improve muscle health and thereby aid in the relief of tendonitis .
Use in physiotherapy
The role of this device in physiotherapy is that it is effective as a therapeutic treatment in the unconscious neuromuscular rehabilitation phase. This is the last phase during the wrist instability rehabilitation process and aims to strengthen the sense of involuntary proprioception .
In fact, the main objective of the powerball is precisely to serve as a device to re-educate reflex proprioception . Reflex proprioception is the series of movement patterns that are naturally present in the joints, but can be altered due to injury to the stabilizing structures of the joint or ligaments.
There are multiple clinical studies that have been in charge of testing the efficacy of the powerball with patients suffering from various pathologies. The results have supported the ability of this device to improve arm, forearm and wrist strength, as well as to help alleviate a variety of joint conditions .
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References
- Sáenz, RV (2002, December 16). What is the Powerball and what is its usefulness in the rehabilitation of the hand? FisioOnline. https://www.fisioterapia-online.com/articulos/que-es-la-powerball-y-cual-es-su-utilidad-en-la-rehabilitacion-de-la-mano
- Balan, SA, & Garcia-Elias, M. (2008). Utility of the Powerball® in the invigoration of the musculature of the forearm. Hand Surgery , 13 (02), 79-83.
