Improving your balance

While usually overlooked, good balance is an important factor for your overall health and injury prevention.  Poor balance can lead to falls and injury, especially for older people. By developing greater balance, you’ll improve your coordination and postural stability.

Stretch and strengthen

Strength and flexibility are two of the main components of good balance. The best ways to improve these are through stretching and strength training, particularly the core muscles, helping your posture when you sit and stand, and improve your ability to perform daily activities, such as lifting bags of groceries.

Achieve better balance

Balance is a skill that can be developed and maintained through practice and is great for every age group or fitness level. 

How’s your balance?

Here’s a simple test to check your balance. Stand up and imagine you’re about to walk forward in a straight line, placing one foot directly in front of the other so that the heel of your front foot touches the toes of your back foot. Keep both feet flat on the floor and your arms by your sides or in front of you (don’t hold them out to the side). Hold that position and close your eyes. If you can maintain your balance for 30 seconds, you are doing pretty well. If you start wobbling as soon as you close your eyes – or before – your balance could use some improvement.