Stay Steady on Your Feet by Improving Your Balance
Posted on June 30, 2009
As we age, standing on our own two feet may not be as easy as it once was. Past injuries; biomechanics; exercise habits; and age are all variables that can affect balance. But we don’t have to lose our balance. By exercising regularly and participating in activities to practice balance, anyone can improve his or her balance.
Kathryn Fox, a graduate student in the chiropractic program at Northwestern Health Sciences University, completed her undergraduate degree in exercise physiology. “Everything in the body is building and growing until about the third decade,” she says. “So about the time we’re 30, if we’re not working on balance or using it, it begins to decline.”
According to Fox, as people age, they lose their kinesthetic sense. Mechanical receptors decrease. Auditory and visual ability decreases, and muscle mass decreases. All of these factors lead to a decrease in balance. “If we’re not making efforts to move forward, we will move backward,” says Fox.
Life is multi-dimensional, and multi-plane, according to Fox. Good balance makes you better able to handle tasks such as carrying groceries and opening doors. “The most important thing is that balance decreases the potential risk for injury,” says Fox.
“No matter what age or background, anyone can improve their balance in little time,” says Fox. When practicing balance, stand next to a wall or table to prevent injury. Fox lists some ways to improve your balance
- Brush your teeth on one foot;
- Brush with your other hand while standing on your other foot;
- Stand on one leg;
- Practice figure eights on a stability ball to work your core; and
- Practice standing up without handrails; focus on drawing your abs up.
What are you waiting for? It’s not too late to improve your balance. Keep yourself safe and steady as you age, and make balance a priority.
HealthyU is a program developed by Northwestern Health Sciences University to educate, empower, and support people who seek to improve and maintain their overall health and well-being through the integration of mind, body, and spirit. The HealthyU website features 1,200 pages of information on how to live healthfully and more than 1,300 links to additional resources on the web. Visit www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU.