Balance: Many Facets to a Complex Skill
Balance … Such a simple term for a complex set of skills which start developing from the time we are born.
Pursuit of better balance led me down this path to create the Bridging® Technique. A simple sway control assessment is the first thing I do in a session to observe your balance. This is also the first skill I teach Bridging students. You can see a short video of this here.
What is Balance?
By definition, physical balance is the control of your center of gravity. What this simple definition leaves unstated is that this control must be present while we are still, while we are moving, and while we are transitioning between directions. No wonder the majority of our childhood is required to develop and master the multitude of neuromuscular skills involved!
Why talk about Balance?
The topic of balance seems to be everywhere on the social media scene these days, especially related to preventing falls (my upcoming topic). Here are some of the ways you will see balance portrayed:
- Trainable: “If you focus on and practice balance exercises daily, you may be ok.” Maybe so, and maybe not. There is a lot of guilt projected with this one in that you’re NOT doing enough! However, do you know if the exercises on social media will help? What helps your neighbor may not be what helps you.
- Instilling Fear: Thoughts of falling and breaking a hip are used to frighten people. Fear of falling can drive you to spend money on programs and devices which may, or may not, be helpful. Again, unless you know what specific balance aspect you are trying to solve, it’s likely money out the door.
The reality of Balance
The fear of falling is very real and can have multiple aspects. How the fear manifests is often as anxiety or activity avoidance because we lack meaningful language descriptors to translate that anxious sensation into actionable or accurately descriptive terms. (We feel afraid but don’t realize it’s because we intuitively are not able to move safely with control at specific times.)
All the exercise, devices, and programs are of little value unless you have a clear understanding of which specific coordination parameter is not working well, and how it results in your poor balance.
Yes, and then what?
What if we take the mystery out of balance by providing meaningful descriptions and actions? This can help you know which scenarios are most risky, and what exercises can be most helpful.
The sway tests we use have their limits. They are immensely helpful in the office, but they are not easily understood by you. Nor do they have quantifiable or visual information. Those three reasons are why I was so excited to find newer technology that can easily give data, reports, and statistical references for your balance abilities. Yay!
New Balance Assessment System — Looking for Volunteers!
The new Balance Testing System arrived a month ago. I’ve been testing it out, find it very useful, and now need some help to understand the integration of this testing to best help you.
Can you help me? I’ve created a set of 30-minute times for you to come in and test your balance, free of charge. The details are below and a calendar link to select a time. (Note: This is outside of our usual session scheduling app.)
Is your Balance Questionable? We have a new way to measure it.
The device itself looks like one of the new wiz-bang body composition scales. It’s not. The Balance Testing System allows me to objectively test over a dozen specific attributes of balance.
You stand on it for 20 seconds to 3 minutes depending upon the test. Eyes open for some, and closed for others. The choice of which tests will always have your safety as the first consideration.
Balance: can I test yours?
Dates: Wednesday May 20 and May 27
Times: From 12:30 to 3p CT
Time Needed: 30 minutes
Location: our Northbrook, IL office
Cost: $0
You will receive a pdf report emailed following the test.
Sign up for your 30 min time at this link.
(You do not need to be a Bridging client to sign-up.)
If you’re interested and not able to schedule one of these times, here is a waitlist for a future date.