The Importance of Postural Stability & Balance

Balance is for Everyone

This month we have had the pleasure of participating at the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department’s annual community event called Fire Fest.   We also met employees of Mahindra Tractor at their first ever employee wellness event.   

We packed up our Zibrio Postural Stability scale and some give-aways and away we went.   

Did you know that balance is  important for all ages, but especially important for those of us 45+.   Balance training helps your body respond more efficiently and quickly to immediate demands and avoid injuries from falls.   Balance training helps with muscular strength,  joint support,  and coordination but there is more.  

Now why would we take our Zibrio Postural Stability scale to community wellness events where we meet with all ages?   The answer: because everyone has something to learn and gain from 60 seconds on the Zibrio.

You see, balance is controlled by vision, vestibular [hearing and pressure regulation in the ear canal], and proprioception [how the body senses the surrounding environment]:

We need TWO of the THREE to be fully oriented for balance. The body will adapt when ONE of these senses are compromised. However, when the second balance controller deteriorates your balance will also deteriorate. That is why training balance controllers are important, through exercise we are challenging the systems necessary for balance, thus reducing fall risk.

• Age is not a cause of falls. 

• Strength and flexibility reduce the probability and severity of falls.

• Everyone can make improvements to balance through exercise

But here is the reality: 

1 out of every 4 persons over the age of 65 is expected to experience a spontaneous fall and this increases to 1 out of every 2 persons at age 80. Research has also shown that strength and power training will improve your balance and mobility, thereby reducing the chances you will be the one who falls in these statistics. 

The Postural Stability (PS) score provided by the Zibrio balance scale has shown, in trials, to predict the chance of spontaneously falling (no challenging environment or pharmacological contributors) up to ONE year in advance. 

The takeaway is that a person with a low PS score that does not  take steps to improve their physical strength is facing increased chances of falling  and becoming a part of the fall statistics.  And  EFW can help!

To schedule your personal Zibrio Postural Scale consultation email [email protected] or call the studio at 281-656-8107