tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post1541909381474569465..comments2024-03-15T04:01:53.036-04:00Comments on Cranky Fitness: Unfair and Unbalanced? The Real Age Balance TestCrabby McSlackerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12108791388350253344noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-45236648306906659052009-09-09T10:41:53.982-04:002009-09-09T10:41:53.982-04:00Hi,
I used to teach this exercise as part of a Pi...Hi,<br /><br />I used to teach this exercise as part of a Pilates mat class. At 50ish I could do this for up to a minute easily and possibly longer if I had the time. <br /><br />As you age falls become the deadliest to seniors leading to broken hips etc.<br /><br />This exercise is very much like falling as when you are falling your are not finding the horizon nor anything else on which to visually focus. Especially slipping on ice. I believe that doing this exercise many times a week has given me the ability to recover when I lose my balance. Seriously, I have slipped on the icy sidewalk with one foot and have had no trouble keeping that other foot stable and regaining my balance without crashing to the sidewalk. I am now 63 and I still if I slip on a surface that I was not expecting to be slippery, I recover and easily. And I do not think that would be the case without this training. The longer you work with eyes closed and one leg off the floor (I take it in circles etc.) the stronger your core gets and the brain can fire the correct core muscles to recover your loss of balance.<br /><br />Another one I taught was to close the eyes and rise up to tiptoes and raise your arms up to the sky at the same time.<br /><br />Just my 2 cents, but please do not discourage this exercise, I swear by the benefits to the aging population.<br /><br />Cheers, JudyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-33202598923958198962009-08-04T20:52:46.191-04:002009-08-04T20:52:46.191-04:00I've been doing martial arts for 4 and a half ...I've been doing martial arts for 4 and a half years now and I can't do this for more than 10 seconds. I say take the test with a grain of salt.Rahimhttp://www.wellnessbymanymeans.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-61988421847669163842009-07-31T20:53:18.733-04:002009-07-31T20:53:18.733-04:00Twenty-six years of wobbly yoga, here. I can stand...Twenty-six years of wobbly yoga, here. I can stand on one foot, and wobble, for quite a while with my eyes open. Close them? Three seconds, max.<br /><br />Where did the RealAge people <i>get</i> this idea???<br /><br />Mary Anne in Kentuckysolarityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03606487180967915130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-18675710789037351842009-07-30T11:18:57.640-04:002009-07-30T11:18:57.640-04:00I have a subscription to RealAge. Each day I see t...I have a subscription to RealAge. Each day I see their message in my Inbox. I'm 33, according to RealAge and their "quizzes" I am about 98. Damn.Posey Lynn Poolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07400904217177132933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-87419551752199211172009-07-29T21:59:01.216-04:002009-07-29T21:59:01.216-04:00Spring Girl is right. If one takes a moment to cen...Spring Girl is right. If one takes a moment to center and relax, then "center" over the one foot that is planted and stay relaxed= for me at least I can stand balanced fairly serenely when my eyes are closed, but I still only got my actual age. Eyes open and knee slightly flexed, I'll stand there til my back locks up anyway. I was also chewing salad, don't know if that helps or not.<br /><br />I have a totally wrecked right side as far as ligament damage etc., so my right side lasts half as long as my left. I think the test is crap too, though. My balance used to be pretty good from riding bikes and spooky, athletic horses; and then my bike on rollers for over 30 years total. My better half and I were just talking about balance yesterday. Both of us were very sports oriented, and for me it all seemed to steady me everywhere. Now I'm fairly shot though, and feel like I should wear knee and elbow pads to go for a walk!<br /><br />Now I finally no longer walk into the door jamb instead of through the doorway half the time, but our whole house is tilted downhill. If we spin a marble in the living room it heads for the SW corner of the second bedroom. I used to feel like I was on a boat, now I'm used to it and compensate somehow. I can't figure out if that made the test harder or helped me.<br /><br />Don't let it bug you Crabby, you're still cute stuff and visual orientation is definitely more important in how some people are wired.<br /><br />I need to know, how does one purchase a cheese sacrifice? Am I in trouble if I make grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner (with a big healthy salad) as planned???<br /><br /><br />PS: My word verification is "UNCHAI". Now how the heck do they know I can't stand the stuff?!TKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747390418220178858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-86602466051948724442009-07-29T17:29:30.317-04:002009-07-29T17:29:30.317-04:00I totally agree with you on being a visual person....I totally agree with you on being a visual person. Can't stand people reading out instructions to me, or phone numbers for that matter. With balance though, especially watching rows and rows of people in front of me teetering, I find concentrating on your breathing instead of balancing really helps. Distract the brain so it doesn't notice your eyes are closed!Spring Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-42201719091876953812009-07-29T16:17:30.611-04:002009-07-29T16:17:30.611-04:00How about this: Try to walk across a balance beam ...How about this: Try to walk across a balance beam after running and biking a few miles. I had to do this as one of the obstacles during Muddy Buddy (you can read the race report on my blog) thinking it would be cake... until I almost fell quite a few times. Time to hit the playground!!! Great post today! Will def have to check out these stability exercises!Jen Feenyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857381064146340597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-51332698636783058212009-07-29T16:14:43.949-04:002009-07-29T16:14:43.949-04:00Wow, gotta work my ankles...can't even do it w...Wow, gotta work my ankles...can't even do it with my eyes open. A friend told me that ppl who have had parts of the body removed have less sense of balance, so I am blaming the 1/2 breast on the right for that. Of course, why I fall that way, I am not sure...maybe the extra lymph fluid in the arm.Rebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05318594769530526005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-76945883593542935132009-07-29T15:10:51.584-04:002009-07-29T15:10:51.584-04:00I did this the other day, and my 42 year old husba...I did this the other day, and my 42 year old husband scored in the 30 year old range. Me, I fell over after 2 seconds. I'm also very visual - I even hear better when I can see clearly.<br /><br />I have been practicing balance for months and I thought I had improved a great deal, but closing the eyes is a deal-breaker.Hanliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16476650601531649816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-9737533114072692282009-07-29T15:01:41.081-04:002009-07-29T15:01:41.081-04:00Whaaat! Wicked! Will try!Whaaat! Wicked! Will try!Trainerpackhttp://www.trainerpack.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-63836891541078532762009-07-29T14:31:41.236-04:002009-07-29T14:31:41.236-04:00You know, I can pass this test with flying colors ...You know, I can pass this test with flying colors but the stupid balance test on the Wii fit? According to that I'm 80. AND you get to keep your eyes open for that one! Wha...?Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04339643338071382257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-3371451126876844622009-07-29T13:00:50.215-04:002009-07-29T13:00:50.215-04:00I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.
Repea...I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.<br />Repeat that over and over. Turn the bottom foot that you are balancing on out a little bit. Lift your leg, find your center, THEN close your eyes.<br /><br />I tried it that way and managed to lower my "real age" by a whole year. Now my real age is only 96.<br />Sigh.the Bag Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17434610508260994331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-40977434679983200482009-07-29T11:46:53.354-04:002009-07-29T11:46:53.354-04:00Agreed. I first heard about this test when I was ...Agreed. I first heard about this test when I was dancing, and I had GREAT balance - until I closed my eyes. Then it was all over but the face-plant.<br /><br />I always wondered if I had something wonky in the structure of my inner ear, since that's supposed to have an effect on your balance, too. (I didn't wonder enough to get it checked out or do any further research, mind you - just an idle curiosity.)Marstehttp://www.takeupyourbedandwalk.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-60272381947106660852009-07-29T11:45:40.840-04:002009-07-29T11:45:40.840-04:00I am always so proud of myself when I do the balan...I am always so proud of myself when I do the balance portion of the body test on the Wii Fit and get close to perfect. And then I go to workout and try and do single leg raises and fall over every.single.time. sigh.<br /><br />I think that the Real Age mumbo jumbo is along the lines of the BMI - pretty much a bunch of crap numbers that seem to be important but aren't, really.Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05890227462052573887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-64412957245847467852009-07-29T11:45:21.895-04:002009-07-29T11:45:21.895-04:00Yep, Crabby, I agree and I am just as skeptical as...Yep, Crabby, I agree and I am just as skeptical as you are.<br /><br />I have heard, however, that some municipalities/states/countries use the eyes-closed-balance-on-one-foot as a field sobriety test. Right. I've tried this on my own and have found I don't need any alcohol whatsoever to fall over!Lizzy_Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12781437083993106307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-52894165191917626792009-07-29T11:37:28.306-04:002009-07-29T11:37:28.306-04:00Sheesh.
You'd think my well-balanced diet wou...Sheesh. <br />You'd think my well-balanced diet would lead to me acing this test.<br />No such luck.The Merryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660495393832517684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-64174142027435157542009-07-29T11:09:58.204-04:002009-07-29T11:09:58.204-04:00Okay...the comment about my grandmother probably d...Okay...the comment about my grandmother probably didn't make you feel any better, did it? :)Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-9629044518618979772009-07-29T11:09:02.607-04:002009-07-29T11:09:02.607-04:00"Discombobulated"
wow! You brought me..."Discombobulated" <br /><br />wow! You brought me back! My grandmother used to say that (or maybe it was discombooberated).Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-87312092438806433132009-07-29T11:01:36.158-04:002009-07-29T11:01:36.158-04:00I've been clumsy all my life, and have been kn...I've been clumsy all my life, and have been known to trip on flat surfaces. I was probably 70 years old when I was 4.<br /><br />My folks even had me take ballet lessons to improve my "grace" & coordination. Picture hippo in a tutu and feathers.<br /><br />I have no advice and instead have learned to wear padding. It helps.Camevilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14446281829643300389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-36168568874139557662009-07-29T10:46:16.457-04:002009-07-29T10:46:16.457-04:00My right side is younger than my left side! Which...My right side is younger than my left side! Which makes even less sense when you consider that I have a wonky right knee!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-37470759554189065962009-07-29T10:36:33.036-04:002009-07-29T10:36:33.036-04:00Hi Crabby,
I do this a lot because two of my gran...Hi Crabby,<br /><br />I do this a lot because two of my grandkids really like being able to stay in position longer than grandma. We always keep our eyes open. (No telling what the kids would do if I closed my eyes.)<br /><br />Plus, with my eyes open, my balance is years younger than I am, and that is a nice feeling. I don't think I've ever tried with my eyes closed.<br /><br />TerrieTerrie Farley Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980849018232866773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-7810157202286943452009-07-29T10:32:54.139-04:002009-07-29T10:32:54.139-04:00ooh-thanks for the balance exercises. i foudn out ...ooh-thanks for the balance exercises. i foudn out this summer just how bad my balance was as I tried to get out to a restful place in the middle of a river and could *not* stop falling over. Once I got onto only 1 foot and the current was a little swift I was doomed...flailing like a 4 year old. Some nice man actually came out and helped me back in from the river because I jsut couldn't keep it together and get back to the shore :)<br /><br />I know without even trying that I am a senior citizen from this balance test. I'm definitely going to do some of those balance exercises...Geosominhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15729167937433295927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-69513420207089701792009-07-29T10:24:59.843-04:002009-07-29T10:24:59.843-04:00I'm down with any balance tests that involve m...I'm down with any balance tests that involve my eyes being closed as long as I'm lying in a prone position at the time.Arena Fitnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139354923792176025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-45320643957524475712009-07-29T10:08:59.157-04:002009-07-29T10:08:59.157-04:00I'm not even going to try it. According to the...I'm not even going to try it. According to their measures, I'm probably already dead and buried. Bring me some flowers, willya?Hilaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12787493532006658679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1704170106558126102.post-77418794830359324212009-07-29T10:02:31.272-04:002009-07-29T10:02:31.272-04:00I'm surprised this test does not have a place ...I'm surprised this test does not have a place to enter your height. I have excellent balance, mostly due to the fact I am practically 3 feet tall, and my center of gravity is nearly on the floor...ctinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11200690758997116163noreply@blogger.com