Balance, Coordination and Chiropractic

Balance and coordination is an often overlooked part of fitness and should be trained as much as strength and endurance. From our science class, we learned that balance and coordination is controlled by several parts of the body, namely the eyes, the ears and most importantly...mechanoreceptors in joints (also referred to as our "6th sense" - Proprioception). These senses pass on the data it has gathered via the nerves to the muscles to appropriately move about gracefully. In older people though, these senses deteriorate and as a result, balance may worsen. Improving balance and coordination can benefit everyone, especially the elderly, to make you feel healthier and fit.

Thing is, there are many factors that may hamper one’s balance and coordination. The alignment of your neck, your spine, and your pelvis is one. Age and disease is another problem. What chiropractic aims to do is to adjust these misalignments in your body to achieve optimal balance. Think of it this way, when your pelvis is misaligned, your body needs to compensate for that misalignment. Perhaps your neck shifts to one side to promote balance but in turn causes you stiffness and neck pain. Chiropractic sees these global problems and adjusts the body, improving balance and coordination.

Age and disease as well is another problem that contributes to poor balance. With poor balance, the elderly are prone to slip and falls. It hinders mobility and lessens the overall quality of life. Diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis most especially hamper ones balance and coordination. This is why many elderly people are in for hip replacements and knee repairs as they have fallen on their buttocks.

Chiropractic also aims to alleviate this problem, with the adjustment. When the spine is not in correct alignment, it is said to be in subluxation. One cause of subluxation may be as a compensatory mechanism for another problem. Perhaps your neck is misaligned, your lower back compensates, and this compensation leads to lower back pain. Regular visits to your chiropractor will help relieve you of this problem and ultimately improve balance and coordination.

But other than chiropractic adjustments, good chiropractors also promote the other things that every doctor does: good nutrition, a healthy mind and exercise. Exercise, although not done by many, is definitely good for you. Doctors advise it, athletes swear by it. Exercise improves flexibility, strength, and most especially balance and coordination. Sports in particular such as dance, martial arts, or basketball help children and adults alike to coordinate actions done by the body. Moreover, it strengthens muscles to prevent further subluxations.

Nutrition too is another important aspect of a healthy life. Important nutrients for balance and coordination include sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium as they are needed in regulating nerve impulses and muscle activity. Without them, you would experience painful cramps. Blueberries in particular are a superfood that contains many nutrients for improving balance and coordination.
Improving balance and coordination is often taken for granted. But with the right exercise and nutrition you could be alive and kicking up to your 90's! And if you do not feel well, then there is always the chiropractor to check you out for any problems.  If you are looking for some great nutrition to fill in the gaps of your healthy eating then check out our supplement website - www.yourchoice.myshaklee.com


Give your local Elkhorn Wellness Chiropractor a call today!