By Sam Cortes, Communications Coordinator
Though you may not realize it, you use your balance to do all kinds of daily activities, including walking, getting out of a chair, going up or down the stairs, and leaning over to tie your shoes.
Regardless of your age, you can benefit from balance exercises.
What is Balance Training?
Balance training is a type of exercise that combines muscle strengthening and balance activities with functional gait activities. Balance exercises can help you improve stability, mobility, prevent falls, and improve performance.
Exercises You Can Try at Home
Exercises aiming to improve your balance can vary from simple movements to more complex ones, depending on your goals and fitness level.
Here are some exercises you can do at home to improve your balance:
- Stand with your weight on one leg and raise the other leg to the side or behind you
- Practice walking heel to toe — that is, like a tightrope walker, placing the heel of one foot just in front of the toes of the opposite foot each time you take a step
- Practice sitting down and getting up from a chair without using your hands for support
- Stand on one leg while brushing your teeth and alternate legs every minute
- Ask someone to toss you a Frisbee while you balance on one leg and then on the other
- Practice balance with the use of a Bosu ball or wobble board
The beauty of balance training is that anyone can benefit from it, whether you are starting your fitness journey, a regular fitness enthusiast, or an athlete.
Incorporating balance exercises to your workouts will certainly improve the quality of your movement and overall fitness performance!
Want to learn more or have questions? Feel free to reach out to us a fitness@sportmanitoba.ca.
Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/The_benefits_of_balance_training
