Balance Beam Walking – What’s Your Balance Like?

In the video below you will see osteopath Heath Williams of Principle Four Osteopathy demonstrating a heel to toe walk forwards and backwards on a 1.8 metre long 9cm wide piece of wood.   What is so great about this exercise is that it takes what would normally be a very simple exercise (feel to toe walking forwards and backwards) and makes it much more challenging by reducing ones surface area and support through a simple change in the environment.  It is also a relatively safe balance exercise to perform because you only have 4cm to fall if you do.  Many typical balance exercises involves standing on one leg and transitioning to one leg to the other or moving ones centre of gravity away from their base of support i.e. single leg balance with reaches on the non loaded leg.  This exercise incorporates walking which is a function that we do all the time and this can be adjusted as required.

 

This blog post was written by osteopath Heath Williams of Principle Four Osteopathy. Principle Four Osteopathy is one of Melbourne City CBD leading Osteopathy clinics. At the clinic we treat a wide range of clients, ranging from the office worker, exercise enthusiast to athlete. We have 3 experienced osteopaths working across both of the clinics. The Melbourne City CBD clinic is located at 29 Somerset Place (basement), close to the corner of Elizabeth St and Little Bourke in the Melbourne City CBD. Our premises adjoin the Jon Weller Personal Training Studio, a fully-equipped training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials or specific training programs and rehabilitation. The Docklands clinic is located at 717 Bourke St (Ground Floor), beneath the Channel 9 building near the walkway from Southern Cross Train Station to Etihad Stadium. Our premises adjoin Pilates on Bourke, a fully-equipped pilates and yoga training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials, pilates or specific training programs and rehabilitation. To speak to an Osteopath or book an appointment at Principle Four Osteopathy, please book online or call 03 9670 9290.