The proprioceptors (receptors located in the joints, tendons, and muscles) provide feedback to the muscles, joints and brain. The muscles then produce rapid concentric (shortening) and eccentric (lengthening) contractions, which result in highly skilled adjustments in the control of movement. This muscle fiber recruitment results in increased muscular strength and endurance. It also increases the joint's mobility and range of motion, while protecting the user's joints. It also enhances coordination, flexibility, posture and the efficiency of muscle function.
By varying the positions of the body or direction of the flexing blade, Bodyblade can target specific muscle groups throughout the body. Bodyblade trains movement through muscular teams and patterns rather then isolated single plane muscles. This makes it a valuable tool for rehabilitation, performance sports training and functional wellness. Coaches have found that Bodyblade helps athletes increase their skill levels and improve their performance. Research has shown that using Bodyblade improves the individual's ability to reproduce joint motion more accurately and repetitively. Since it can be utilized at any angle and position, Bodyblade can mimic the movements in a particular sport and provide the required specificity of training. The resulting muscle fiber recruitment will also encourage increases in strength that are relevant for the particular sport. Bodyblade's use of inertia also helps the body to become more efficient at agonist (one side of joint)/antagonist (opposing side of joint or action) activities as it promotes a better balance between muscle acceleration and deceleration on both sides of the joint. This leads to less trauma and injury, and less downtime for athletes.
The key to Bodyblade's success in functional rehabilitation, performance training, and overall fitness is proprioception, power, stabilization, balance and coordination. Physical therapists have discovered that restoring normal movement patterns and contractions to muscles that control joints seems to assist painful areas. This includes extremities immobilized in a cast or brace which can be exercised with Bodyblade without initially requiring an excessive range of motion. This unique, oscillating action makes it an ideal choice for treating acute injury, chronic disability and post-surgical rehabilitation in a variety of environments and task-oriented activities.
Bodyblade tends to normalize the way in which the joints function, eliminating the potential for imbalance that can occur with other exercise systems. It also permits a high efficiency of motion, producing the greatest rehabilitation gains with the least amount of effort.
