Dooley Noted: 5/4/2015
I’m obsessed with walking on straight lines and elevated planks, like the one you see in the picture.
I am fascinated that people will walk in a straight line on a wide surface, without much deviation.
However, the moment you narrow them in, they find it challenging to walk on that same straight line.
The perception of difficulty and safety greatly affect your system of balance.
Balance needs two of the three following modalities to be maintained:
1. Visual input
2. Proprioception (where your body is in space, relative to sensation)
3. Vestibular apparatus (where your head, eyes and spine are in space, relative to positioning)
As soon as the field is narrowed, the system may perceive a decrease in allowable error. Balance may be compromised, as a result.
If trying to improve balance, try these tips:
1. Putting out the arms: This increases the proprioceptive field but tends to provide less focus to the task of overall balance. Keep the arms closer, putting them out only to decelerate a possible loss of balance or fall.
2. Use your vision: If you have vestibular issues, like being carsick, you will need your vision even more to maintain balance. Focus your eyes on a target that is straight ahead but in line with your walking target.
3. Use your proprioception: If you have bad vision or vestibular issues, you will need to utilize this somatosensory pathway even more. Wear shoes with less padding on the bottom and learn how to feel the ground. This will bombard the cerebellum with input, helping you with balance.
4. Use triplanar stability drills: You’ll see two Video DNs targeting triplanar stability at the hip. Consider how controlling all three planes of movement can help you maintain balance.
5. Slow it down: Don’t speed through a balance loss. Freeze and hone in on the three components of balance.
Try these tips, and start demanding more out of your system by walking some narrowed margins.
You might just prevent a balance-related injury it fall.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
