Balance Is Everything
By Donna Stark
You've scoured the internet for healthier recipes and researched different forms of exercise to add to your daily routine. You even went out and bought yourself a noise-reducing machine so you can look forward to better sleep. Improving your overall health is important, but have you considered ways in which you can improve your balance and stability too? You may not have placed that high on your priority list, but it should definitely be there. Poor balance and stability can wreak havoc on your life, which is why you need to pay more attention to it. Take a look.
Better Posture
Improving your balance and strengthening your core muscles will do wonders for your posture, and when your posture is corrected, you may begin to experience less pain in your days. Start with the basics if you are new to this, like balancing on one leg, and move on from there. But be careful! If your balance is seriously out of whack, be sure there is something nearby to grab on to.
Reduced Risk of Falls
When you start improving your balance, you may also start noticing how much easier it is to control your body. This can help you react to changes in your body position faster than ever before and reduce your risk of slips and falls. In other words, serious injuries, like sprains and broken bones, can be avoided.
Improved Joint Health
By improving your posture (which means better alignment in the body) and reducing your risk of injuries, balance exercises can certainly have a positive impact on the future health of your joints. Proper alignment in the body minimizes the risk of arthritis and joint dysfunction, strengthens the muscles around your joints, and speeds the healing and recovery process of injuries.
Better Balance Is Easy
From the simple act of walking to picking your child off the floor to exercising daily to engaging in extreme sports, balance is involved in everything you do! It is crucial regardless of your age or how physically active you are, so do your best to strengthen it as soon as you can! Here are some simple suggestions to get you started.
- Walk on uneven surfaces (beach, nature trails)
- Walk on a low wall or balance beam
- Walk on your tiptoes
- Brush your teeth or talk on the phone while standing on one leg
- Practice yoga or tai chi
- Exercise with a stability ball
Balance for Everything
You may not be able to eliminate all your klutzy moments, but overall, you should be able to move with more control after adding balance exercises to your daily routine. And that will help improve the quality of your life immensely!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hillsboro, Ore.