The Peanut Ball is a great piece of equipment that comes in a range of sizes to suit each child’s unique size & therapeutic needs! It is a fantastic dynamic sitting option, providing a bit more stability than a standard exercise ball.
The Peanut Ball encourages weight bearing through lower extremities, while leaving the upper body free to engage in crossing midline, reaching and manipulating objects. It can be used to promote developmental positions such as prone propping, quadruped, and tall kneeling. It is also a fun tool to incorporate in dynamic balance challenges for older children!
1. Sitting Strength
We use the Peanut Ball as an alternative sitting option to address postural awareness via trunk strength & stability. Pictured above, the child is able to engage abdominal & back musculature while interacting with toy placed on top of cube chair or on a vertical surface for added shoulder activation.
We can change the size of the Peanut Ball to facilitate proper positioning for each child. Here we utilize the peanut ball to promote postural control as child uses a theraband to engage upper body strength & stability.
2. Prone Extension
Prone over the Peanut Ball is a wonderful way to encourage shoulder stability and strength.
3. Quadruped
We can use the Peanut Ball to promote quadruped positioning for shoulder & hip strength and stability.
Try out tall kneel or half kneel using the Peanut Ball for dynamic prop!
4. Peanut Ball Bridge
Utilizing the Peanut Ball as a dynamic support during bridging exercise is a fantastic way to challenge lower extremity & trunk musculature.
For an added challenge try out a single leg bridge using the Peanut Ball as dynamic support. This is a great way to target posterior chain musculature, postural engagement & hip stability.
5. Dynamic Sit to Stand
The Peanut Ball is a wonderful dynamic surface to practice sit to stand transition, as it encourages initiation of transition by engaging trunk musculature before weight bearing through legs. As the child rises into standing, we can promote proper biomechanics, fluid weight shifting and motor patterning.
Try out dynamic floor to stand transitions using the Peanut Ball as we promote tall kneel through half kneel to standing.
For more activity ideas check out Five Fun Activities with Dyna Discs!
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