Balance – It’s not easy being a biped
Did you know that balance is highly complex? I invite you to try this simple and incredibly informative balance test. Start with positioning yourself in a fairly open space with your eyes open. Complete the test and then re-test with your eyes closed. During each test count how many seconds you are able to remain steady before putting the raised foot down.
One-Leg Stance Test
- Eyes open
- Stand on one leg
- The other leg it is not allowed to touch the stance leg
- Arms can assist in maintaining balance but not touch anything
- Three attempts
- Pay CLOSE attention during the first five seconds, as this is a more DYNAMIC phase and can provide us with more information on what to target
- Repeat on the opposite legHow many seconds did you manage? In relation to your age group check out the normative data table below to see how you fared
Why is it crucial to assess the first 5 seconds of this balance test? Delving deep to gather scientific data, in a laboratory set-up you would typically use a piece of equipment called a force plate to measure Ground Reaction Force (GRF) variability. This equipment provides data on the forces exerted by the feet against the ground. GRF is a key biomechanical metric in understanding human movement and balance, since it captures the dynamic interaction between the body and the ground. Increased and decreased variability in GRF can provide valuable insights into movement efficiency, stability and potential injury risks.
Increased variability generally indicates challenges in balance or weaker stability, while decreased variability suggests better stability. But of course this is only a starting point to determine a person’s balance, and how well they adapt to their environment while moving.
The great news is, even without expensive scientific equipment we can gain a lot from observing how you react to a one-leg stance test. This is just one of the assessments I share with clients on my journey of applied neuroscience, a brain-based approach to posture and movement. What do we target based on the test outcome? Well to begin with, we would look at strategies to improve your feet functionality, strength and position, ankle mobility, calf strength, pelvis mobility and position.
Want to know more? Drop me a message I am more than happy to chat.
Balance well ??
Sue x
ref: One-leg stance in healthy young and elderly adults: a measure of postural steadiness?
Jonsson, Erika et al. Clinical Biomechanics, Volume 19, Issue 7, 688 – 694 Available at: https://www.clinbiomech.com/article/S0268-0033(04)00073-7/abstract (Accessed: 25 October 2024)
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