Category: Health and Wellness
Let's start by saying my balance is pretty terrible and this makes it hard for me to do useful lower body exercises like squats and lunges. So I wanted to ask all of you exercise geeks out there if you've had problems with your balance and how you've addressed them. What kind of exercises you use and so forth.
If you can get one, get a fitness trainer ball. You can do almost anthing with these and it will be exercise: Crunches, lay across it and move the ball using your gut, etc. There are so many of these. Look back in this board, I posted some really amateur audio of myself describing ball exercises on here. Under the Daily Living board I believe.
Anyway so long as you keep your body aligned straight when using the ball, it's hard to imagine what you could possibly do wrong. I'm just an amateur middle aged guy who used to work out a lot and should get back into it again ... I've taken about a year off.
Thanks Leo for the advice. I agree that exercise balls are great but it's mostly lower body balance I need to exercise even though some core training never hurts.
core training will help even your lower body. But I, like you, have horrific balance. I started yoga about a year ago (college thank you!) and have knowticed better balance. I'm not saying it's great balance yet, but there has definetly been a drastic jump in my balancing ability.
p.s: sorry for the waaaaayyyy late post, don't kill me please!!!!
I have the same issue, and all you have to do is keep practicing your lunges. The more you do, the more your body gets used to it.
At least, that's the way it was for me anyways.
I don't have trouble doing squats, lunges, or other exercises. I do core exercises during most of my workouts. However, the problem I have is that I can't stand on one foot for much more than three seconds. I used to think this didn't really matter until I read an article about how balance helps distance runners with reflexes, specifically when, for example, a runner comes across an area of the ground that causes him/her to twist an ankle. Supposedly having better balance prevents the ankle's common reflexive response of snapping and twisting to the side. This is much more common for those who run on trails or gravel. Anyway, other than trying to stand on one foot, I honestly don't know other ways of improving balance. Hopefully I can invest in an exercise ball in the near future.
Runner, for awhile I was in the gym several times a week, and my balance improved a lot. I got to the point where I was able to balance on a bosu ball for several minutes at a time while I did squats and exercises with weights. But even then, I could never, ever stand on one foot for more than a few seconds.
I'm the same way. I used to couldn't balance on one foot for more than about 3 seconds. I've now gotten that up to about 0 and maybe on a really good day 15 or 20. I attribute most of this to yoga, although my martial arts practice probably didn't hurt at all.
I don't have this problem, but suggest you use machines.
Using machines will get you the exercises you need, even squats, and keep you safe.
The exercise bars are good too, because there light, but if you are trying to do heavy stuff, and loose balance, you'll hurt yourself.
Once your muscles build, and you are stronger generally, your balance might improve.
You can use up right boards as well, but I'll bet you do best on machines.
If you go to a college, or have a high school near use them. It won't cost you anything.
During my workout this morning, I gave your problem some thought.
When you do a squat, or other excercises like it, where's your head?
I tend to tuck my chin, or look down at the floor, or weight I'm handling.
It seems if I tuck, the balance is more stable, then if I hold my head up.
I did this some.
Just an idea.
I’d like to tell you about a product I have and use for squats when I do them with an Olympic bar.
It is called a Manta Ray.
Basically, you snap it on the bar, and it allows the bar to rest on your shoulders.
No pain from the bar on your neck.
This tool might help you with balance as you are building your muscles, if you are going to use free weights for squats.
It centers the bar on your shoulders for you.
No matter what, it is a wonderful product all around.
Here’s an article on it.
I’ve had mine so long, I forgot what it is called, so had to look it up. Smile.
In this article, you’ll read that one of the negatives is placement, or centering it.
This is easy actually if you can’t see.
In the middle of an Olympic bar is a rough section. You use your fingers, or thumbs to feel that the front part of the manta is even, because you’ll feel smooth bar on either side of it on the front, so can even it up easy.
If you decide to try one, you’ll understand.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/betteru50.htm