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Why Balance Is Important
Are you or were you an athlete who used to be at the top of their game but due to getting older, ankle sprain, or other injuries your balance has never been the same? If you feel like you need to get started on balance work along with strength conditioning to improve your lower-body and core stability this article will give you tips to help start your journey to master your balance and allow you to reach your highest goals.
How Poor Balance & Stability
Negatively Affects Our Lives
Sprains, stumbles, and falls can all be attributed to poor balance and stability. When our balance is off, we are more likely to put a strain on our muscles and joints, which can lead to serious injuries. Poor balance can also cause us to put on extra weight, as we tend to compensate by eating more when we feel unsteady.
Over time, poor balance and stability can take a toll on our overall health. As we age, our bones and muscles deteriorate, and this process is accelerated when we don't have good balance. This can lead to an increased risk of falls and fractures. This can occur when we're on or off stable surfaces or even bending down to pick something up which results in a slip and fall.
Why Balance Is Important
The human body is designed to move. When we don’t move enough, or when we don’t move in the right way, it can lead to health problems. That’s why balance is so important in keeping us healthy.
When we have good balance, it helps us to stay upright and to react quickly if we start to fall. This is important for preventing falls, which can cause injuries.
Good physical balance also helps us to keep our muscles strong. When our muscles are strong, they help us to burn calories and stay lean. They also help us to maintain a healthy heart and lungs by keeping our blood flowing properly.
So if you want to stay healthy, make sure you practice balance training in your activity program. It’s good for your body and your mind!
What Controls Our Balance
There are three key systems that play a role in controlling our balance: the inner ear, proprioception (Nervous System), and vision.
The inner ear is responsible for our sense of equilibrium, or balance. It contains fluid-filled canals that help us to keep our balance when we move. Proprioception is the ability to sense the position of our bodies in space. This information is sent to the brain through the nervous system and helps us to maintain our balance. Vision also plays a role in keeping us balanced. When we move, our eyes send information to the brain about our surroundings. This helps us to orient ourselves and keep our balance.
Together, these three key systems work together to help us maintain our balance. However, if one of these systems is not functioning properly, it can cause problems with our balance.
Steps To Improve Your Balance
There are several things we can do to improve our balance. Exercise is one of the best ways to achieve better balance. Balance training helps by teaching our bodies how to better control our center of gravity. Bodywork, such as yoga and Pilates, muscle scraping, and chiropractic adjustments can also help improve our balance.
In addition to exercise, we can also improve our balance by paying attention to our posture and alignment. Good posture helps us maintain our balance and prevents injuries. When our body is in proper alignment, it improves our body's ability to balance due to increased joint stability and mobility.
How Balance Exercises
& Balance Training Work
When it comes to improving your ability to control your body and maintain balance, balance training and balance exercises are key. Balance is controlled by your vestibular system, which is located in your inner ear, and by proprioception, which is your body's awareness of itself in space.
Core strength plays a big role in maintaining balance, as well. Your core muscles help you keep your spine stable and support your trunk. Strong ankles are also important for maintaining balance as they are the primary point of contact with the ground.
There are many ways to improve your balance through training and exercise. Balance exercises can be done using a stability ball, Bosu ball, or even just standing on one leg. Resistance bands can also be used to challenge your balance.
Using Balance Equipment To Improve Your Balance
If you are looking for ways to improve your balance, coordination, and flexibility, then you may want to consider using balance equipment. Balance equipment can help improve your overall health and well-being. Here are some benefits of using balance equipment:
1. Improve Balance: Using balance equipment can help improve your sense of balance and coordination. This can lead to improved performance in everyday activities such as walking and running.
2. Increase Flexibility: Balance equipment can also help increase flexibility. This can help you move more easily and reduce the risk of injuries.
3. Overall Health: Using balance equipment can also help improve your overall health by increasing muscle strength and endurance. This can lead to better overall fitness and health.
How A Properly Functioning Nervous System Allows For Better Balance
The nervous system is responsible for controlling and coordinating the body’s response to internal and external stimuli. It’s made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The nervous system is important for maintaining balance because it helps to control reaction time, agility, and movement patterns as a few of its functions.
Reaction time is the amount of time it takes for your body to respond to a stimulus. Agility is the ability to change directions quickly and efficiently. Movement patterns are the way your muscles move in order to produce a particular movement.
Having a properly functioning nervous system is important for maintaining balance because it allows your body to respond quickly and efficiently to changes in your environment, which helps keep you from falls and other injuries.
How To Incorporate Balance
Into Everyday Life
Balance training is an important part of any fitness routine. It helps improve balance and coordination and may help prevent injuries. Here are some tips on how to incorporate balance training into your everyday life take a moment and give them a try:
1. Tiptoes - When you're doing household chores or simply walking around the house, try standing on your tiptoes for a few minutes at a time. This will help strengthen your calf muscles and improve your balance.
2. Closing Your Eyes - Another way to work on your balance is to close your eyes while standing still. This may sound easy, but it's actually quite challenging! Try it next time you're waiting in line or brushing your teeth.
3. Standing on One Foot - Another great balance exercise is to stand on one foot for 30 seconds (or longer) if you can!
Continue Your Balance Work
Ready to take the next steps in improving your balance? Schedule a consultation at Base Camp Health to assess your balance and determine if and how it can be improved to help you accomplish your greatest goals. Getting the results you want are as easy as 1-2-3!
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1. Schedule a consultation at Base Camp Health
2. Get your personalized care plan
3. Reach your highest goals!