The medicine ball

… a well-known training partner

The medicine ball is a truly classic piece of sports equipment. Almost everyone used it in school sports.

Today, and in functional training such as football training or fitness, it is experiencing a real comeback!

A medicine ball generally weighs between 0.5 and 5 kg, and is made of thick leather, rubber or Ruton. It has a diameter of approximately 20 to 35 cm, and is available either as full ball (with little bounce) or air-filled version with valve (with a strong bounce).

Selection of a ball depends on the respective goal of the training, the desired area of application and the selection of exercises. These days the air-filled ball, e.g. made of Ruton with a needle valve, has become a popular alternative to the well-known medicine ball made of leather.

“The name ‘medicine ball’ comes from the USA, where this type of ball was first used as medicine for the body because almost all muscles in the body are strengthened when the ball is thrown and caught. Its invention is attributed to William Muldoon (1853-1933), a New York policeman who participated in boxing and ring tournaments. The ball was soon also used as an item of sports equipment in curative gymnastics.” (Source: www.wikipedia.org)

Its versatility, simplicity and effectiveness has gained renewed appreciation in recent years. It can be found in almost every gym and the classic applies: “Back to basics”.
Whether in ski gymnastics, football training or a fitness class in the studio – numerous trainers and physiotherapists integrate the medicine ball into their workouts, warm ups or rehab training. A piece of training equipment which is also particularly popular with men – there is quite a bit of weight to “manage”. An advantage is that both sport-specific movement patterns and everyday movements can be trained. Ball selection for various training exercises depends on the exercise, the individual performance level of the person training, the desired  number of repetitions, and of course the training goal.

The medicine ball has a special place in functional circuit training. In the circuit developed by DTB and TOGU a modern concept was developed which combines classic training with the latest developments in sports science. The newly developed circuit  is an attractive option for gymnastics clubs. The training is varied, and suitable for both men and women. With the motto “gym fitness centre”, the functional circuit offers sophisticated strength, core and sensorimotor training.  The development team designed nine circuits which build on each other, and offer optimal training for various target groups (health, fitness or competitive athletes) at various levels. The practical experiences have thus far shown that it is also a lot of fun to face these challenges. The medicine ball is integrated into all the circuits, and confirms that it is still modern.

Information or training regarding this topic should be requested from the LTV or DTB.