COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BALANCE

March 15, 2011

Why should people train their balance?
First and foremost, people should train their balance to help reduce their risk of falling. Each year, 1 in 3 people over the age of 60 experience a fall, and these falls can result in broken bones, hospital bills, and even a loss of independence. Secondly, having better balance improves your overall quality of life because it allows you to be more confident on your feet during your daily activities.

How exactly does one do a balance exercise?
For safety, you always stand next to something sturdy to hold on to. Then you place your feet in various positions that will challenge your sense of balance. Once positioned, you leave go of your support if possible and start balancing. Your hand is always close to your support in case you need it. Then, if you feel that it is too easy, there are simple progressions that you can use to make the exercises harder. Your goal is to find a degree of difficulty that challenges your balance while still feeling safe.

Who should train their balance?
Most people don’t even think about training their balance until after they’ve had a fall. Everyone should be doing balance exercises on a regular basis to counteract the effects that aging has on their sense of balance and help prevent falls before they happen. It’s easy to do, and it can make a huge impact on a person’s quality of life.

What muscles are used during the balance exercises?
There are no muscles in particular that are just used for balancing. The brain will activate whatever muscles it needs to help keep you stable. It is often many muscles at the same time. The exercises are teaching the brain to coordinate all those muscles better and faster.

I am 88 years old. Am I too old to increase leg strength?
The amazing thing about the human body is that strength can be improved at any age. The key is finding exercises that will strengthen your muscles without causing pain in the joints or elsewhere.