By Physiotherapist Hannah Harboe

This article discusses static balance, and how balance products can be used in training children who have difficulties with stability. There are three types of balance: dynamic balance, proactive balance and static balance.

Proactive balance

Proactive balance is the ability to predict what you need to do to maintain your balance a split second, before you do it, e.g. we know precisely how much tension and elasticity to apply in our legs, when we jump up from the floor and we know how much is required to gain equilibrium, if we land on a cushion or another wobbly and uneven surface. If we misjudge the movement, we land heavily or clumsily or lose our balance and slide off the cushion.

Static balance

Static balance is the ability to hold a position, i.e. when we stand on one leg while putting a sock on the other foot or when we hold our body in a certain position for a longer period of time, e.g. while working at a desk.

Working together

When all three systems are coordinated, we move elegantly and smoothly and our bodies work optimally and efficiently with no unnecessary tension. When playing and moving, all three types of balance are coordinated. In effect, each type of balance exerts strong influence on the other two.

Children may sometimes have problems with one or more types of balance. For training to be effective, it is important that the therapist analyses the weakness and exercises the type of balance the child finds difficult and, at the same time, exploits the child’s own resources.

This article has been provided courtesy of Gonge. © Gonge Creative Learning ApS 2015. Please click below to download a printable version which also includes a case study: River Stones and Stability Training - Catalogue Product Focus (152.24 kB)