Balance - The ability to control the placement of the bodies center of gravity in relation to its support base.
Balance: A biological system that enables us to know where our bodies are in the environment and to maintain a desired position. Normal balance depends on information from the inner ear, other senses (such as sight and touch) and muscle movement.
Our sense of balance is specifically regulated by a complex interaction between the following parts of the nervous system:
- The inner ears (also called the labyrinth) monitor the directions of motion, such as turning or forward-backward, side-to-side, and up-and-down motions.
- The eyes observe where the body is in space (i.e., upside down, right side up, etc.) and also the directions of motion.
- Skin pressure receptors such as those located in the feet and seat sense what part of the body is down and touching the ground.
- Muscle and joint sensory receptors report what parts of the body are moving.
- The central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes all the bits of information from the four other systems to make some coordinated sense out of it all. from medterms.com
Ahh, the nervous system. Again in the right hand column. We can break balance in to 2 more types: static and dynamic. Still and moving. Of course the moving or dynamic balance is more important when it comes to not landing on your butt during an overhead squat.
Go back up and read #2 again. This is exactly why we tell you to find a spot on the floor and look at it during most movements. Your vision and depth perception is a critical component to balance. Test this theory - stand on one foot and stare at a spot in front of you. Now change nothing but close your eyes. You fell over, huh?
Yesterdays crappy weather was brought to you straight from Montana - the responsible party knows who they are.
Welcome home to Tamara's Nathan - glad you're back safe.
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