Lani Granum works out at home using a workout device called an Indo Board.

Balance is such a fundamental part of each movement that it hurts — sometimes literally — when it’s gone. But to strengthen our balance, especially as we age, it turns out we do need to lose it. Or at least test it a little.

Kids do this naturally by walking, running on or scrambling up the most precarious surfaces they can find. Adults might be better off trying balance training, which can involve using unstable equipment, such as BOSU balance trainers, wobble boards, rockers and stability disks.

More than 90 percent of personal trainers now incorporate balance training tools, according to an industry survey. But teetering on unstable surfaces isn’t just fun and different. It forces you to activate the smaller, stabilizing muscles in knees, ankles and hips that don’t necessarily get a workout when you’re on solid ground.

ROCKER BOARDS

A good introduction to basic balance training, rocker boards have a base that tilts forward and back or side to side. Used by hockey players and skiers, they can also help children who suffer from conditions such as traumatic brain injury, sensory integration disorders and low muscle tone, said Erin Luy, an occupational therapist at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton.

Get it: Square Rocker Board $49.95, SPRI Products spri.com.

WOBBLE BOARDS

A wooden or plastic board that teeters in all directions, they’re often used for prehabilitation and to help increase stability, agility and mobility. Personal trainer Cathy Leman of Elmhurst, Ill., used one to treat a severe case of plantar fasciitis on both feet. “Agony, but helpful,” she said. Can be used for push-ups, sit-ups, one-legged standing. Some boards can be adjusted to be both wobbles and rockers. Use it while you’re on the phone, watching television or standing at your desk.

Get it: Pro Wobble Board,$79.95, fitter1.com.

INDO BOARD

Remember the Bongo Board? Indo Boards are similar, with wide, skateboard-like platforms set on a hollow plastic roller. Fun, addictive and loved by both preschoolers and the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association, Indo Board rollers can turn into missiles if you’re not careful. The IndoFLO cushion can slow things down, but it’s best to use this on grass or carpet and allow some space. I would not put my 72-year-old mother on this one. Crunch Fitness offers an Indo Board class in New York City and is launching similar programs in Chicago, San Francisco and Miami in June.

Get it: Indo Original, $99.95, indoboard.com.