A Novel Solution For Better Movement & Balance

Or at least it was to one class member who asked me for help with improving her balance on her left leg.

This member was frustrated about her ability to balance after an ice skating fall where she fractured her left elbow.

Before the fall she'd had no issues with 1 leg balance at all, but now she felt her balance standing on her left leg was "poor".

I tested her balance on both her right and left leg in a few different ways, and noticed something very interesting.

You might be thinking, where's the obscure connection between her elbow injury and her ability to stand on 1 leg...And there IS a connection, but I bet it isn't what you're expecting!

Observing this member's movements, and then discussing what I'd seen with her, I believe that solving this issue lies in recalibrating her nervous system from a state of protection and fear back into safety and trust.

What led me to this conclusion, and what exercises did I suggest she play with to restore her previously decent balance?

1) Balance Tests

I asked the member to show me her balance standing on her right leg and then her left leg.

To my surprise, there wasn't much difference at all between the two sides. The member agreed, and was also bemused that she could now balance easily on both legs.

Therefore, it's unlikely that a physical issue or faulty biomechanics is the main problem here. 

The class we'd just done was a Yoga-based exercise to music class, moving to the beat of the music. That gave me a clue as to what might be going on for her.

I decided to apply a bit of pressure and see how her balance coped. 

I told her that I was going to count down from 3, 2, 1, and she had to quickly stand on whatever leg I chose. So I counted down 3, 2, 1 and called "right" or "Left".

And there it was! The wobble and unsteadiness appeared only when she had to quickly stand on her left leg, and couldn't take her time to prepare.

2) How This Affects Balance and Movement

The member and I chatted about these tests, and what they tell us about why she's struggling to balance on her left leg.

I asked her if the fall had been a bit of a shock, and she replied "yes". We talked about how falling can seem like a total loss of control, causing panic and alarm in the nervous system.

The member agreed, and replied that she HATED not being in control - she liked everything to be "just so", organised and orderly.

Our working hypothesis for the deterioration in her balance is that her nervous system is trying to keep her safe and in control after the shock of the unexpected fall. Her body engages protection mode whenever there's a possibility of losing control or falling, for example. standing on 1 leg whilst trying to keep up with the music.

Whenever there's a sense that safety or stability has been compromised, the muscles will brace and guard to try to restore balance and equilibrium.

3) The Solution

I suggested that the member deliberately introduce instability and unpredictability to help her nervous system learn that it CAN cope and still feel in control of the situation.

One way you can do this is use a Bosu ball - dome side up initially, then dome side down. 

Both ways of using the Bosu ball create an unstable surface and constantly changing demands on balance and stability. This trains safety back into the nervous system even when you don't have full control of the situation.

This member was very surprised at the outcome of our chat, having never considered the psychological effect of the fall, how it would subconsciously change her nervous system and how that affected her muscles, movement and balance. However, it totally made sense to her and she was excited to try the exercises. 

Takeaway

Changes in your movement and stability are NOT always the result of a physical injury, muscular imbalance or faulty biomechanics. 

It's important to also consider the influence of the brain, nervous system, your personality type, beliefs, life history and experiences. 

This is a big part of why many people get so far with conventional treatments like physiotherapy, osteopath or chiropractor, but then plateau and stay stuck in pain. 

Most conventional methods of treatment only look at treating the physical body and fixing symptoms, without zooming out and looking at the bigger picture. 

NEXT STEPS

** BOOKINGS NOW OPEN ** 

The Befriend Your Body Method for Pain Management & Relaxation

A small group, tranquil mindful movement class for pain management and relaxation, with a deeply relaxing sound bath meditation and a 1:1 coaching slot for you to get help with a specific pain or injury before the class.

During the class, you'll learn how to use small movements to successfully ease tension and reduce pain, then immerse yourself in the calming sounds and healing vibrations of the crystal singing bowls, ocean drum and rain stick. You'll leave feeling fully rested, relaxed and rejuvenated. 

This class is for you whether you're looking for a natural way to manage pain, or simply to quietly rest in a peaceful sanctuary.

Click HERE for all the details, including how to book. Numbers are limited to a small group to nurture a friendly, inclusive and supportive community for all members.

Other ways you can find help with managing chronic pain or an injury are:

• Book into a Stretch or Pilates class with me - these are a good introduction to The Befriend Your Body (BYB) Method (mindful movement) for pain management.
• Get your copy of my free E-guide "How to Get Relief From Back Pain and Muscle Tension in just 10 mins a Day". This introduces the 3x universal stress responses that can keep you stuck in pain, and explains the 4x pillars of The BYB Method. There's also 2x video tutorials showing you how to release muscle tension from the front and back of your body in the comfort of your without expensive equipment. Download HERE
• Subscribe HERE to receive "The Movement Chronicle", a weekly e-newsletter delivering mobility and pain reduction tips directly into your inbox every Monday morning,

You can connect with me through any of these channels:

• Email at norma@unicornhealthandfitness.com
• Follow me on Facebook and DM me on Messenger https://www.facebook.com/norma.pearsonfitness
• WhatsApp message to 07801 867361.