When you hear the word balance, I bet you think of an older man or woman using a cane. You most likely skip over any articles that deal with balance as your scroll through your newsfeed if you are under the age of forty or fifty. Please give me your eyes for a few paragraphs while I plead with you why it’s so important to think about your balance now- before you are the older man or woman with a cane.
An ankle sprain, ACL repair or knee scope are more likely injuries that you can relate to if you don’t find balance articles on your list of intriguing reading material. Did you know, having one ankle sprain will put you at risk for another one down the road? Did you know, after surgery on a joint at the hip or below – no matter how “minor” the procedure – your balance receptors have to be retrained to turn back on? Fast forward twenty years. If you haven’t challenged your balance or rehabbed your balance from the above injuries, you are more likely to injure other body parts.
You can start improving your balance now- even if you feel like your balance is good. By adding simple interjections into your workouts or daily life, you can decrease your risk of further injuries and keep yourself from being the stereotypical older man or woman on a cane.
Still don’t believe me that you really need to work on your balance? Try this one last test. Stand up. (Seriously, stand up- it’ll take 15 seconds.) Lift one leg into the air and make sure it’s not touching your other leg. Close your eyes. Count to 15- like one Mississippi, two Mississippi. Did you make it? Did you keep one leg off the ground without falling over or losing your balance? You should have.
If you didn’t, and you are realizing you can make your balance better even if you are not considered “older,” we have a seminar that is just for you to learn easy and doable ways to improve your performance and balance at any age.
About Adrienne Reich, PT, DPT:
Adrienne Reich is a physical therapist for Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic. She graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2008 and has since been practicing in the orthopedic clinical setting. Adrienne works closely with students to assist with their clinical education for physical therapy. She lives with her family in Cary, North Carolina and enjoys camping, running 5Ks, and being a mom.
