Balancing Act

In life, you take things for granted.  Things like walking.  Running.  Getting out of bed with no problem.  Going up and down the stairs.  And why shouldn’t you?  These are everyday things that everyone does with no problem.

Well, not everyone.  And it is a more common problem than most people ever realize because they are all affected by a person’s sense of balance.

This blog is dedicated to all things MS-related.  However, despite all of the research I have done, I have only recently discovered that 65% of those with MS have balance issues.  I had no idea it was that high!

Well, balance is a thing that actually needs a bit of a tune up as EVERYONE gets older.  It is only more pronounced in MS patients.

Practices such as yoga and game systems such as the Nintendo Wii, base much of their usefulness upon the balance of a person.

In yoga, for instance, many of the postures are designed to teach practitioners how to properly align their bodies to aid in their balance.  All of those years that your mother or teacher told you to “sit up straight” actually has more to do with the proper alignment of your body than you probably ever thought.

Many of the games found on the Wii game system (http://www.nintendo.com/wii) use the included Balance Board to control movement in the game.  The MS Research Center in NYC was so interested in the possible therapeutic uses of the Wii Balance Board, they designed a trial rehabilitation program called (what else?) “Wii-Habilitation.”

Many of my friends have asked me what exactly happens when your balance is messed up.  Well, I just have them think back to a childhood game,  like “Pin The Tail On The Donkey.” What did we do to the person whose turn it was?  Well, you blindfolded him or her, then you spun them around and then pointed them in the direction of the donkey.  Laughter ensued because as the person walked toward the picture of the donkey, he or she wobbled all the way there.

Well, that is why a person with balance issues is often referred to as a “wobbler.”  The only difference is that there is no spinning or blindfold involved.  That is the regular state of being for them.  Eyes wide open.

Now, there is therapy that has traditionally been done to hopefully minimize the “wobbling” experienced by any person in particular.  I can attest to the fact that 6 years ago, walking in a straight line for three or four steps, was an absolute impossibility.  It’s not impossible at all now.

It just takes some thought.  Something that it never did before.

As another point of information, much of the input we need to properly balance ourselves comes through the bottom of our feet.  However, the introduction of shoes and softer and softer insoles have actually served to lessen the input we receive through the bottom of our feet.

A new type of shoe has recently been introduced to the athletic shoe market.  They are called Vibram Five Fingers.  They look strange. but I can attest to the fact that they do work. You can see them at the following web site: www.vibramfivefingers.com.   They are difficult to put on at first because they look like gloves for your feet with five individual places for your toes.  They also have a sturdy sole, which actually provides feedback to the bottom of your feet and simultaneously protect your feet from any debris on the ground.

Now the fact that there are five individual toe slots on each foot is interesting.  See your toes and legs are “designed” to provide you with stability and shock absorption.  However, a traditionally designed shoe removes much of that functionality.  Actually the tip of shoes and the orthotics that many people wear inside their shoes have been designed with the idea of recreating that which your feet provide naturally.

So, do you see the problem here? As we age we are often prescribed thicker and thicker shoes which, in turn, make it harder for us to feel the ground.  If you have an issue with your balance, which increases as you age, a more expensive shoe with a cushier insole can actually serve to worsen your problem.  It is counter-intuitive, but it can be part of the problem.

I can go on and on about balance, but this is probably a lot to digest all at once, so I won’t!

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