Poor balance is a common occurrence in both active and sedentary people. Balance is the ability to shift your weight and remain upright. There are four possible causes for poor balance: weak core muscles, bad posture, reduced leg strength, and inner ear problems.
The core muscles of the human body are the stomach, abdominal and back muscles. These muscles hold the body upright and have both large and small muscles that work together to support the body. There are several exercises available to fix poor balance. They are all easy to do and provide quick improvement.
The first exercise to improve your balance is to strengthen your back muscles. Stand up and stretch to your full height. Tuck your bottom in by tilting your pelvis in and up. Release and repeat. Feel the movement in your lower back.
To improve your core muscles, complete sit-ups and abdominal crunches to strengthen these muscles. Alternate between back and stomach muscles for 10 days, with at least 20 repetitions per day. You will feel your balance and strength improving.
Posture is the upright position of the body. Good posture occurs when you can draw a straight line from your ear, through your shoulder, hip and ankle. Stand in your normal posture and look sideways at yourself in a mirror. If you have poor posture, your hips are out of alignment. To correct this, move your body until it is a straight line.
Practice holding this position as you stand, walk and sit. Proper posture makes you appear leaner, allows you to move with more freedom and creates an image of physical health and vitality. By maintaining an upright posture, your core and leg muscles are working and strengthening all day.
Improve your leg strength to help stabilize your body. The exercises to improve your leg strength are basic exercises that can be completed at any time. Stand up to your full height, with your hands resting on the back of a heavy chair or a tabletop. Take one leg and lift it off the ground, moving your knee up to a 90-degree angle. Hold this position for a count of 15. Put your foot back down and repeat with the other foot.
For an additional challenge, take one hand off the chair and then take both hands off. Keep your head up and look at a point parallel to the level of your eyes. This will improve your posture and help to fix poor balance.
Inner ear infections or damage has a direct impact on your balance. The fluid level inside the inner ear is responsible for our sense of balance. If you have continual problems with your balance, see your doctor and discuss your inner ear concerns.