The Importance Of Good Balance For Our Health And Fitness
Ambitious fitness routines can sometimes overlook one simple but crucial aspect: the importance of having good balance. This is not just necessary for exercising effectively and safely but also to make everyday activities such as reaching for items from high shelves easier.
We may think that balance is something that only older people have to worry about, and it’s true that our ability to balance declines as we get older. However, it’s an important function to maintain at any age. Here are the benefits of having good balance.
To prevent the risk of injuries
Good balance helps to keep the body stable when we are active, reducing the risk of unexpected trips and falls that can lead to injuries. This is especially vital for people who take part in strenuous physical exercise, such as running, to ensure they are less prone to picking up sprains and fractures.
To maintain everyday functionality
Good balance is key to easily and safely carrying out everyday activities such as putting on shoes and socks and reaching for items from high shelves. Research goes so far as to show that people who have good balance in older age tend to have longer life expectancies!
To improve sports or athletic performance
Even people with high fitness levels can benefit from better balance, particularly if they play competitive sports that require sharp twists and turns or jumping, catching and throwing a ball. Good balance leads to more controlled movements that are key to a strong athletic performance.
Enhanced core strength
People with good balance also naturally have better core strength because the two are closely related. This helps to keep the spine and pelvis stable, which leads to ease of movement and less stress and strain placed on the rest of the body.
Simple exercises that can improve your balance
Our balance can be improved by some quick and easy exercises that do not require a high standard of fitness to achieve. Here are some examples:
Stand on one leg
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your weight equally distributed. Place your hands on your hips and lift your other leg off the floor, bending back at the knee. Hold for 10 seconds and release. If you feel wobbly at first, gently rest your hand on a surface for support. Practice for progressively longer intervals without using any support.
Sit to stand
Sit toward the front of a chair with no armrests. Your feet should be flat on the floor and shoulder-width apart. Sit with your back straight and your hands lightly resting on the seat, and then lean slightly forward, shifting your weight onto your feet. Stand slowly without using your hands for support.
Lunges, split squats and step-ups
You can progress to more advanced exercises and do so with resistance/weights. The benefit of doing exercises like split squats, lunges, and step-ups is they develop your balance while simultaneously building muscle tissue. These exercises are highly functional and practical as they get you strong in the stride position, making walking, running and hiking easier and safer. You can find video demos and key coaching points for all these exercises right here.
If you would like some more exercise advice from an online fitness coach, please get in touch today.