If you’re looking into items to help increase your activity and comfort, you may have come across balance boards and fatigue-reducing mats. But what’s the difference? In a comparison between a balance board vs anti-fatigue mat, I provide you with a cheat sheet on the difference and help you decide which one is more suited to you.
Plus, find out if balance boards are suitable for a standing desk and which type of balance board is best for your level of stability and comfort.
What is a balance board?
A balance board is a platform which generally pivots on a dome or a cylindrical shape to introduce a range of movements and instability to the board while you stand on it. The aims of a balance board include improving your balance and posture while also providing your body with a workout. When used as a standing desk balance board, they encourage activity by introducing micro-movement into your stance. Balance boards are available in a range of materials; however, the most common material is wood and plastic. Source
What is an anti-fatigue mat?
Anti-fatigue mats are designed with the purpose of reducing feelings of fatigue and discomfort for people who stand in an area for a period of time. Fatigue-reducing mat achieve this by providing support and cushioning to increase the comfort of the user while they stand. Anti-fatigue mats are available in an array of materials including:
- Gel
- Polyurethane foam
- Vinyl
- Rubber
What is the difference between an anti-fatigue board and a balance board?
Balance boards are unstable and allow pivoting motions in a range of directions. Anti-fatigue mats are stable since they are firmly positioned on the ground. Balance boards come in an array of shapes, but they tend to be rectangular or circular. The level of stability can range from easy to difficult, depending on how much balance you prefer. Anti-fatigue mats tend to be square or rectangular. They offer a range of terrains and feature flat and raised surfaces, grooves and massage points on the fatigue-reducing mat which promote movement while you stand.
One of the most popular areas to position an anti-fatigue mat is at a standing desk. However, they can be used in a range of environments from kitchens to garages to production lines.
Balance boards tend to be attributed to fitness environments, but can be used at standing desks too. In fact, manufacturers have specifically designed balance boards for standing desks. These usually offer greater stability so the user can focus on their task more.
Below is the promised cheat sheet in the form of a comparison table to give you a quickfire overview of the main differences between an anti-fatigue board and a balance board.
|
Feature |
Ant-fatigue mat |
Balance board |
|
Stability |
High |
Low to high |
|
Degree of movement |
Low |
Medium to high |
|
Shape |
Usually square or rectangular |
Usually rectangular or round |
|
Cushioning |
Soft to firm |
Limited |
|
Surface |
Flat, grooves or massage points |
Usually flat on standing side |
|
Level of focus required |
Low to medium |
Low to high |
|
Comfort |
Medium to high |
Low to medium |
|
Suitable for standing desk |
Yes |
Generally, yes, particularly the standing desk balance boards |
|
Suitable environments |
Standing desks, kitchens, garage, assembly lines, outdoors, labs etc. |
Fitness classes, standing desks |
|
Ease of use |
Easy |
Easy to difficult |
Should I choose a balance board or an anti-fatigue mat?
A balance board requires greater focus and offers more movement, range of positions and fun when standing while also strengthening your balance and muscles. An anti-fatigue mat requires less focus and offers more stability, support and cushioning for people standing for long periods in a designated area.
It ultimately boils down to stability, level of focus, movement and cushioning.
The purpose for investing in one or the other will dictate which you choose. So, if you’re looking for stability and cushioning with a limited range of motion, then the anti-fatigue mat is the winner. However, if you’re seeking a higher level of movement and looking to challenge your body, the balance board is the clear winner.
Are balance boards good for standing desks?
Balance boards are an excellent means of adding activity and motion to your day while using a standing desk. Once you have become accustomed to simply standing at your desk, a balance board can increase your level of activity while you stand. They can also encourage blood flow and micro movements to ensure that you feel less tired. That said, since there is an element of attention required to maintain stability, it may detract from your productivity. Therefore, a balance board with a higher degree of stability may be suited to you if this is a concern. There are standing desk balance boards available which are specifically designed for use at a sit-stand desk.
Types of balance boards
Rocker balance boards
These may also be referred to as standing desk balance boards. As the name suggests, it allows you to rock backwards and forwards or left to right. It has a flat surface for standing on and are typically produced from wood or plastic.
These are one of the easiest balance boards available to use.
Wobble balance boards
A wobble board is also known as a balance disc and is usually shaped in a spherical or octagonal shape. It features a dome on the base which you balance yourself on. They may feature a flat or slightly convex surface for standing on.
Balance discs are available in either a cushion material which can be inflated, such as plastic, or a rigid material, such as wood or hard plastic.
Roller balance boards
Roller balance boards look similar to a skateboard since they are flat and rectangular. They feature a cylindrical object underneath which you use to balance yourself.
Roller balance boards are one of the most difficult types of balance boards to use. Therefore, they are not generally suited to beginners because of this.
Half balance boards
Half balance boards are also known as balance balls, balance trainers or bosu balls, and are most commonly observed in gyms or fitness classes. The half balance board is a half-moon shaped semi-circle with an inflated ball on one side and a hard flat surface on the other side.
You have the option of standing on the flat side or on the spherical side.
They offer the largest range of motions of all of the balance boards available. However, with that comes a greater degree of difficulty.
Tip: Due to the nature of their height, they may not be suitable for standing desks if you are too tall for the desk while standing on the bosu ball.
|
Features |
Rocker balance boards |
Wobble balance boards |
Roller balance boards |
Half balance boards |
|
Shape |
Rectangle with curved base |
Disc shaped with curved base |
Rectangle with cylinder underneath |
Semi-circle shape with flat side |
|
Stability |
Medium – high |
Low – medium |
Low – medium |
Low |
|
Cushioning |
Minimal |
Yes for ball cushions, minimal for discs |
Minimal |
Yes |
|
Surface |
Flat |
Curved or flat |
Flat |
Flat or semi-circle |
|
Level of focus required |
Low |
Medium |
High |
High |
|
Range of motion |
Forward and back or side to side |
360 degrees |
Side to side |
360 degrees |
|
Suitability for standing desks |
Excellent |
Good |
Good |
Low |
|
Difficulty level |
Easy |
Medium |
Hard |
Hard |
|
Suitable for beginners |
Yes |
Yes, if larger board |
No |
No |
|
Cost | $$ | $ | $$ | $$$ |
Hybrid balance board
There are balance boards available that allow you to adjust between beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of stability. So, you don’t have to choose between one or the other!
They can feature adjustable blocks underneath the surface of the which can be adjusted to allow varying ranges of stability. This also offers you a greater choice in terms of the ranges of motion that the board can perform.
The Fitterfirst Active Office Board offers this feature, and this video shows how you can adjust the difficulty of stability depending on your preferred position.
What is the difference between a wobble board and a balance board?
The biggest difference between a wobble board and a balance board is that a wobble board is usually in a spherical shape and look like a disc, whereas a balance board tends to be rectangular and look more like a skateboard. A balance board is a rectangular shaped board that balances on top of a dome or a cylinder. These allow you to balance side to side or forward and back. A wobble board is a round board that sits on a half-moon shaped base. This allows you to move in every direction. They are usually made out of plastic or wood materials.
What balance board is easiest to use?
The rocker balance board is one of the easiest to use since it has the greatest degree of stability. This is followed by the wobble board, roller balance board and the half balance board. The larger the balance board, the easier it is to maintain stability. Furthermore, the less range of movement available, the greater the steadiness. I arranged the various types of balance boards in order of easiest to most difficult to use below.
Rocker balance boards allow movement side to side or forward and back. This makes them one of the easiest balance boards available. They are particularly suitable for beginners or people with poor stability. The Fluid stance balance board is a popular example of a rocker balance board which is relatively stable and is also designed for use at a standing desk.
Wobble balance boards allow for 360 degrees movement in all directions. Again, the larger the board and the dome, the easier it is to maintain balance. These would be considered an intermediate level of difficulty.
Roller balance boards are more difficult again because you are simply balancing on a cylinder which allows you to rock side to side. These are suited for people who have mastered the rocker balance board and the wobble boards.
Half balance boards also enable 360 degrees of motion. Due to their elevated height off the ground and the degree of curvature on the base of the bosu ball, these are often considered the most unstable balance board available.
If you intend to use a balance board or a wobble board with a standing desk and you fear losing balance, it may be best to opt for a board that has a higher degree of stability that doesn’t detract from your focus.
After all, an element of your attention will need to be attributed to maintaining balance on the standing desk balance board to ensure that you do not fall off.
Conclusion
In summary, the characteristics of a balance board and anti-fatigue mat vary significantly in terms of stability, cushioning and motion. Knowing why you want the mat or board in the first place will ultimately dictate which you should choose.
Remember, the larger the board, the more balance that you have. When choosing a balance board, it’s best to choose a larger one if you are a beginner or have poor stability.
Plus, don’t forget that most companies offer a return policy of 30 days, so even if you discover that the mat or balance board isn’t suited, you can usually return it for another one!
My personal recommendation for a fatigue-reducing mat would be the Safco Movable Anti-Fatigue Mat. I love that you can effortlessly slide it in and out with your foot, and that it has beveled edges so that it easier to clean. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty!
If you’re interested in what professionals recommend regarding how to use an anti-fatigue mat along with some other frequently asked questions, then you’re not alone. Find out right now by reading: How do anti-fatigue mats work? With FAQs
I hope that this website will help you on all topics related to your home office and your work area. That said, if you have any queries or comments on the above or anything in general, please drop them in the box below. I would be delighted to hear from you!