“I wasn’t born with good balance.” I hear those words often while training clients. I usually respond with, “Were you born able to ride a bicycle with two wheels, or did you train yourself how to depend less on four wheels and balance yourself?” Balance, or the ability to engage muscles in communication to hold…
Targeting the gluteals and abdominals in a training session is a popular goal for many fitness seekers, but what about training for balance? Do you regularly seek out strategies for improving balance in your exercise routines? Considering that balance training has been shown to reduce the risk of falls (especially in older adults) and improve…
The BOSU is an effective tool for training both static and dynamic balance, as well as training motor skills, kinesthetic awareness and proprioception. When training on an unstable surface, the core automatically fires and contracts to keep the body upright. Thus, the BOSU challenges individuals to build strength and balance simultaneously. Beginning exercisers should have…
Incorporating balance training into exercise programming is essential to improving stability and mobility in the kinetic chain. Proper balance and movement mechanics contribute to improved functionality and performance in both physical activity and activities of daily life. As we age, various physiological and kinetic chain functions, especially balance, begin to decline, and fear of falling…
Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, with people over 60 suffering the highest number. While balance impacts both our longevity and our quality of life, it’s an often-neglected skill. A 2022 study by a team of Brazilian researchers found that 20 percent of the 1,700 older adults they tested couldn’t balance…
Balance is a vital component of health and physical performance and is essential for activities of daily living like climbing stairs or carrying heavy loads. Balance also improves athletic performance, allowing athletes to move and transfer energy more efficiently. Balance is especially important for older adults hoping to reduce the risk of falls and injuries….
While balance has not traditionally been included in the four major components of health-related fitness—aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility and body composition—research confirms that both static and dynamic balance play a critical role in keeping us active and injury-free. Static balance is the ability to stand in place on one leg without creating undo biomechanical…
Balance is a funny thing. We don’t often fully notice it until we lose it. Like any other fitness characteristic like speed, power or strength, it can be developed and enhanced. Blind Balance Training Balance training is often approached in less-than-helpful ways. For example, the usual test of balance is to stand on a single…
Balance, which is often overlooked and undertrained, is necessary for all functional movements and essential for the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries. Balance generally declines with age, with nearly one in five older adults reporting issues with dizziness or balance, including problems such as unsteadiness and difficulty walking on uneven surfaces and climbing stairs….