Balance Beam

• Build Instructions
• Drawing

Purpose of Balance Beam

Physical therapists serving the elementary school system of Rhea County, TN, requested balance equipment to be used as part of the therapy offered to disabled students under their care. Their request was for at least two balance beams and two wobble boards, which would be safe and effective tools for stimulating the children mentally and physically.

Background

The two physical therapists who serve the disabled children of the Rhea County elementary school system travel between four different schools and do their best with an extremely limited budget to provide this level of stimulation to children whose ages range from 6 to early teens and whose disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and many others. The physical therapists already have a balance beam, which sees a great deal of use. The balance beam stands only a few inches off the ground and is hinged in one place to allow for some adjustment. However, the largest problem with the existing equipment is that there is not enough of it. With the two therapists moving between four schools, there is not enough equipment to maintain each location with the variety the therapists would like. Transporting the device is possible but awkward, and it would be much preferred to stock each school with its own balance beam.

Design