# How's your balance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2024, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995 "2024-04-08T03:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/21 "2024-04-09T15:30:52Z")
I was walking laps at the mall this morning and saw a woman standing on one foot and tying her other shoe while riding on an escalator. That’s balance… ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/22 "2024-04-09T15:51:06Z")
Around the first of the year I started standing on one foot while brushing my teeth. I can stand on my right foot for the whole 2 minutes now, I’m lucky to stay on my left for more than a minute. I think that might have to do with the 2 surgeries I have had on my left knee. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/23 "2024-04-09T16:20:27Z")
Coincidentally, last night my personal trainer had me do a new-to-me balance excercise: I had to stand on one leg for as long as I could _with my eyes closed_. The goal was to be able to do it for 5 seconds, 5 consecutive times on each leg. I always had to start with my eyes open: it was amazing the difference that closing them made! My trainer said we (sighted people) don’t realize the extent to which we rely on visual cues for our balance. I was able to do it once or twice by picturing the floor in my mind, but overall I couldn’t really do it. Even my trainer struggled with it while demonstrating. It’s something I can see trying to do at home from time to time, though. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/24 "2024-04-10T01:44:27Z")
NY Times: [Can You Pass the 10-Second Balance Test](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/well/move/balance-exercises.html)? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/25 "2024-04-10T02:01:40Z")
Shite. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/26 "2024-04-10T23:17:14Z")
I don’t sign up for that sort of thing, can you please tell us what the test is asking? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/27 "2024-04-11T01:48:58Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I don’t sign up for that sort of thing, can you please tell us what the test is asking Gift link: > **[Can You Pass the 10-Second Balance Test? (Published 2022)](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/well/move/balance-exercises.html?ugrp=c&unlocked_article_code=1.jk0.RfzR.yjHju0A5ZgcO&smid=url-share)** > > This simple, often neglected skill can pay huge dividends later in life. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/28 "2024-04-11T02:09:34Z")
Thank you so much! I started taking Tai chi classes last January and they have really helped my general health as well as my balance. The instructor has helped me to realize how important doing regular stretching and balance exercises are. I can now get up off the floor unaided by human or objects. I never thought that would happen again but here I am! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/29 "2024-04-11T02:16:33Z")
I’m not sure I was ever able to do this well in my athletic prime. Between neuropathy in my feet and weak ankles it’s a struggle. Part of it is knowing how to lean so as to limit how much muscle is needed to maintain a particular pose. It was a non-starter until I tried different leaning angles. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/30 "2024-04-11T19:39:50Z")
Had another PT session for balance today, and it was mostly about building lower body/core strength, as well as some seemingly simple balance exercises that worked damn near my whole body. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/31 "2024-04-12T00:21:01Z")
Yeah, I’ve been working on my core too. With every weight lift I ‘set’ the muscles down there, they say it will help! ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/32 "2024-04-12T13:40:36Z")
The exercises I do require a lot of shifting weight from one foot to the other, and I also have a wobble board for my standing desk at work, so my balance is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/33 "2024-04-13T00:24:32Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It might be that being more fit physically will both improve your balance and extend your lifespan. But just improving your balance without improving your physical fitness might do nothing. > > I have no idea if what you are doing will help your lifespan or not. Just pointing out that correlation does not imply causation, as the old saying goes. Improving your balance makes you less likely to fall. Reducing your chances of falling may well extend your lifespan. (Being more fit may also do so, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/34 "2024-04-13T23:34:19Z")
My balance is fine but I only turned 47 earlier this week, so I think that’s to be expected. One of the most depressing things my mom ever told me about aging was, after seeing me putting on my shoe while standing on one foot, is “Wow, you can still do that standing? It sucks when you eventually need to sit down to get your shoes on.” I was maybe 38 at the time, and I felt that I was being pretty stoic about aging, but that, that’s just too far. Fortunately, that day she predicted hasn’t come yet. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/35 "2024-04-13T23:46:29Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > As many have talked about since the last round of New Year’s resolutions came about: Stand on one foot when you brush your teeth. I brush for two minutes, thanks to my electric toothbrush and those two minutes used to be “wasted” time. I started off standing on one foot until the 30 second indicator came on, switch to the other foot and then repeat until the 2 minutes is up. Wait, you have a toothbrush with 30-second indicators? What’s the brand? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/36 "2024-04-13T23:48:52Z")
I’m not @wguy123 , but at least some models of Sonicare brand have that feature. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/37 "2024-04-13T23:55:16Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/38 "2024-04-14T00:15:26Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Wait, you have a toothbrush with 30-second indicators? What’s the brand? Mine has that feature and it is an Oral B. Consumer Reports on electric toothbrushes: > **[Oral-B Smart Limited Toothbrush Review - Consumer Reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/health/toothbrushes/oral-b-smart-limited/m401362/)** > > We've tested and reviewed products since 1936. Read CR's review of the Oral-B Smart Limited toothbrush to find out if it's worth it. Mine is a less fancy, not bluetoothed (🤣) to my phone more basic model which I got for $40 at cost from my dental college. Even their more bare bones model has this feature. Mine vibrates every 30 seconds (for the 4 quarters of your mouth) and then give a longer vibration and light flashes at two minutes. Very handy. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/39 "2024-04-14T00:20:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > at least some models of Sonicare brand have that feature. Yep. That’s what we have. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995/40 "2024-04-14T00:25:34Z")
Thanks, guys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-balance/999995.md?page=1)