Suggestions for Improving Balance?

[marya]

Originally Posted by Lannette

Practice foot stretches and toe dexterity. Your feet are the base of your balance. Poor nerve transmission = poor sensation = poor balance over time. Regain calf flexibility. If your calves and heel cords are tight your balance shifts forward. This decreases stability.

Practice toes taps. This will strengthen your lower body, rebalance muscle pairs and improve walking balance. Using these muscle sends the message to your body that these muscles and nerves - along with the blood supply to support them - are necessary.

All of the other typical balance ideas work so much better when you improve your lower leg ankle and foot function and nerve transmission.

I wonder if my foot fitness regimen is responsible for my new ability to execute bellydance spins and turns! I've been consistently doing foot/calf exercises I memorized from this DVD, designed for ballet dancers: http://www.theshoeroom.ca/stability-...tte-hamel.html. (It includes balance moves as well.)

[buffmama]

Kickboxing should help also.

[PennyK]

Originally Posted by Lannette

Not sure anyone addressed the following.

Practice foot stretches and toe dexterity. Your feet are the base of your balance. Poor nerve transmission = poor sensation = poor balance over time.

Regain calf flexibility. If your calves and heel cords are tight your balance shifts forward. This decreases stability.

Practice toes taps. This will strengthen your lower body, rebalance muscle pairs and improve walking balance. Using these muscle sends the message to your body that these muscles and nerves - along with the blood supply to support them - are necessary.

All of the other typical balance ideas work so much better when you improve your lower leg ankle and foot function and nerve transmission.

I believe Miranda is great for these exercises and have used them often for foot pain and tight calves and overall balance and flexibility. Also, check out The Healthy Foot website, she has a dvd/download/clip for exercises to strengthen feet, arches, ankles, legs, pelvic floor, inner thigh, and calf muscles. Her dvd/reviews are also available on Amazon and a few copies on Ebay.

[Joni O]

I didn't think about CS. I have a ton of those gathering dust on my shelf.

[JackieB]

Originally Posted by Joni O

I didn't think about CS. I have a ton of those gathering dust on my shelf.

For sure CS. My participants are commenting about their improved balance.

[mlroman]

If you're interested in going the foot exercise route, there's a good video called Sole Training. http://willpowermethod.com/shop/vide...ideo-download/

[monterey vidiot]

Originally Posted by PennyK

I found Rejuvenetics (vhs-Amazon) a few years ago after reading a brief mention of it here on vf and really enjoy it. A blend of ballet, tai chi, and yoga involving a lot of one legged and arm movements. Short and sweet and has been super for helping me with balance. Definitely a keeper!

Penny, thanks! I had forgotten about this one. Found it in the closet and did it today; I still have a VCR.

[bzar]

I read an AARP article recently and one of the suggestions was make sure your eyesight and hearing are good, and if not do something about it.

below is a link that reminds us about sensory input and how it aids in our balance:

Balance is achieved and maintained by a complex set of sensorimotor control systems that include sensory input from vision (sight), proprioception (touch), and the vestibular system (motion, equilibrium, spatial orientation); integration of that sensory input; and motor output to the eye and body muscles. Injury, disease, or the aging process can affect one or more of these components.

http://vestibular.org/understanding-...balance-system

Tai chi has been lauded as a great way to improve your balance since it moves so slow.

[bzar]

also found this regarding vestibular exercises from University of Mississippi Health Care:
https://www.umc.edu/uploadedFiles/UM...arExercise.pdf

[Pat58]

Jeannine, love your new avatar!