What is the Oov?

Most of you have probably noticed or at least heard about our newest piece of equipment, the Oov. All of us were rather skeptical going into the course.

We thought, “do we really need to learn how to use another piece of equipment?”

I thought I had already allocated enough money and sacrificed weekends towards continuing education but with some encouragement from my peers I, as well as my colleagues decided to embark on the Oov journey. I’m sure glad I did! The following highlights just some of the benefits and features the Oov provides.

A cradle for your spine

This is the analogy I have been using for describing the Oov. The shape of the Oov is engineered to match the natural spinal curves of your body. Unlike a foam roller, the Oov is made from compliant foam so it is comfortable. Once a client is positioned on the Oov, they are essentially in what we refer to as a “neutral spine.” This is wonderful for us as manual therapists and movement instructors because we no longer need to “clog” the neurologic system with cues about where your spine and pelvis are in space.

Balancing your stability

The Oov is shaped to be an unstable surface. So while it “cradles your spine,” it also challenges your rotational stability, which is functional for many of our daily activities. Since the shape and material of the Oov keeps the spine in an elongated, neutral position, we can easily train clients out of dysfunctional, habitual movement patterns. More importantly, clients gain new awareness of these patterns which is a challenging aspect of our treatment paradigms.

Free your shoulders

Unfortunately, our modern world promotes unhealthy posture. Freedom and coordination of the muscles around the neck and shoulders are important for a healthy, functioning spine. The Oov was designed to allow the shoulder blades to move freely while laying on it. We can train a client’s head, neck and shoulder alignment while challenging the neuromuscular system to recognize a new, healthy position of the spine.

Home exercise

Teaching clients how to perform exercises at home can be tricky. One quandary I experience as a physical therapist is when patients report not doing their home exercise program because they were not sure if they were doing it correctly. This is where the Oov comes in handy. Many of the “core strengthening” exercises we prescribe can be performed on the Oov without proprioceptive confusion. Purchasing an Oov for home is an affordable option for physical therapy and fitness clients alike.