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
Visual Eyes

(541) 938-5888

Menu
  • Home
  • Patient Center
    • Online Forms
    • Access Your Health Records
  • Eyecare Services
    • Contact Lens Exams
    • Eye & Vision Exams
    • Lasik Eye Surgery
    • Frame Selection
    • Eye Surgery
    • Hard to Fit Contacts
    • Ortho-K
    • Computer Vision Treatment
    • Sunglasses
  • Payments Options
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Doctors
    • Meet the Staff
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Community Content
    • Eyeglasses
    • All About Eyes
    • Basic Visual Skills
    • Protecting Your Eyes
    • Visual Rehabilitation
    • Pediatric Vision Issues
    • Glasses
    • Contact Lenses
    • Common Eye Conditions
      • Vision Impairment
      • Eye Lids
      • Age-Related
      • Injury & Irritation
      • Changes in Appearance
      • Cognitive and Acquired
    • Vision Problems
    • Eye Symptoms
    • Eye Diseases
    • A Child's Vision
    • 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
  • 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.

  • Eyeglasses
  • All About Eyes
  • Basic Visual Skills
  • Protecting Your Eyes
  • Visual Rehabilitation
  • Pediatric Vision Issues
  • Glasses
  • Contact Lenses
  • Common Eye Conditions
    • Vision Impairment
    • Eye Lids
    • Age-Related
    • Injury & Irritation
    • Changes in Appearance
    • Cognitive and Acquired
  • Vision Problems
  • Eye Symptoms
  • Eye Diseases
  • A Child's Vision
  • 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

Please Call Us at (541) 938-5888 or Use the Form to Request an Appointment.

No embed code settings found. Please configure it
  • Services

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.

    View Forms
  • Make An Appointment

    We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule an appointment today!

    Schedule Now
  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home or office.

    View Forms

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am

5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am

6:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

Social Media

Follow Us

Location

Find us on the map

  • Copyright © 2019 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Health Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy