Stability, Coordination, and Overall Balance
The team at RGym often hears from their clients and members that they want to improve their balance. While training on unstable surfaces can be helpful in certain contexts, balance isn’t just about standing on a wobble board. One key component that’s often overlooked is strength training. Building strength—particularly in the lower body and core—plays a crucial role in improving stability, coordination, and overall balance.
Here are 5 lesser-known and positive facts about how strength training improves balance:
Improves Muscle Strength and Control: Strength training builds the muscles that stabilize your joints, especially in the legs, hips, and core. This makes it easier to control your body position during movement and prevent falls.
Grip Strength Correlates with Overall Balance: Research shows a surprising link between handgrip strength and balance, especially in older adults. A stronger grip is often a proxy for total-body strength and better neuromuscular coordination, both key to balance.
Enhances Proprioception: Lifting weights can improve your awareness of where your body is in space (proprioception), which is crucial for maintaining balance, especially on uneven surfaces or during sudden movements.
Strength Training Alters Neural Pathways: It's not just muscles—strength training improves balance by enhancing communication between your brain and muscles. It helps create faster, more efficient neuromuscular connections that support stability.
Unilateral Training Enhances Balance More Than Bilateral: Exercises like single-leg squats or lunges (unilateral movements) challenge balance more directly than two-legged moves. This is because they mimic real-life activities like walking or climbing stairs, activating stabilizer muscles more effectively.
RGym, your friendly neighborhood gym, supports all your fitness goals—including improving your balance through smart, effective strength training. They welcome all fitness levels and pride themselves on creating a strong, supportive community. Come see what they're all about—give them a call.
RGym
5357 College Avenue
rgym4fitness.com
510-655-8808
