Sudoku? Great. Balance training? Now you’re talking!
If there’s one thing that can get overlooked in boosting brain health, it has got to be balance training.
Balance training is brain training
Balance training isn’t just about preventing falls or improving athletic performance, it’s a powerful way to enhance brain function and cognition.
When you challenge your body to stay steady, your brain engages multiple regions responsible for coordination, focus, and spatial awareness. This constant communication between the body and brain strengthens neural connections and promotes cognitive resilience.
How balance challenges the brain
Effective balance relies on the continuous integration of sensory input (visual, vestibular, somatosensory) and motor output, a process heavily mediated by executive functions. Tasks requiring perturbation, dual-tasking (e.g., walking while talking), or dynamic adjustments (e.g., standing on an unstable surface) place a significant load on working memory, attention, and processing speed. The brain must rapidly process conflicting information and suppress irrelevant stimuli, hallmarks of strong attentional control.
Balance, memory, and attention
Balance exercises such as standing on one leg or practicing yoga, stimulate areas of the brain linked to memory, attention, and executive function, especially when paired with cognitive tasks, like talking to a friend. These activities demand focus and adaptability, forcing your brain to process sensory information quickly and make split-second adjustments. Over time, this improves mental agility and reaction time.
Balance training and neuroplasticity
Balance training also supports neuroplasticity which is the brain’s ability to reorganise and form new pathways. For older adults, this can mean better memory and reduced risk of cognitive decline. For younger individuals, it enhances concentration and learning capacity.
Making balance part of your week
Incorporating varied and challenging balance drills into your weekly movement will go a long way in supporting physical and mental health.
Keen to have a go? Try standing on one foot while chatting with someone, drying the dishes or while brushing your teeth.
We’re here to help
Balance training can bring up feelings of vulnerability in the beginning. It is unsettling to feel out of balance, especially with increasing age. However, balance training can also be a joyful, playful way to be active. Getting bored by your exercise program? Add a new balance exercise to re-engage your attention.
If you’re feeling unsure about challenging your balance at home, we are here to help you build better balance skills step by step, no matter where you’re starting.
Zoe Hewett
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
