Loss of balance leading to falls accounts for 39% of all ACC claims and costs the country the thick end of $2 billion per annum, which is why ACC invests heavily in its Live Stronger for Longer programme (all of our classes are accredited).
The three physical factors involved in balance are our Base of Support (BoS), Centre of Gravity (CoG) and Limit of Stability (LoS). We are most stable with a wide Base of Support and a low Centre of Gravity. It’s no coincidence that boxers have their feet apart (one slightly in front of the other) and knees bent.
But, moving around with feet apart and knees bent isn’t desperately practical, so balance is largely a reflection of how far we can move our CoG outside our BoS and remain upright. This is called our Limits of Stability.
The key to improving balance is to challenge our Limits of Stability by, for example, practising narrowing our base of support while shifting our centre of gravity without falling, by walking in tandem stance for example.
And we can make things even more challenging (but still achievable) by depriving ourselves of one or more of the senses and systems that control balance. For example, we can close our eyes (visual), turn our heads (inner ear/vestibular), or stand on an uneven surface (proprioception).
Apropos of all this, we look forward to installing the HUR Smart Balance Trainer from Finland at the Bishopdale gym. This will enhance our ability to both test and train balance. We are extremely grateful to the Kiwi Gaming Foundation for funding this equipment.
