March 19, 2024

Strength and Balance: All in One Exercise

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Strength and Balance: All in One Exercise

Build leg strength, core stability and balance, all in one exercise. Here’s how:

Stand on your right leg only. Hold both arms out to your sides for balance. Bend forward from your hips and keep your spine aligned. Tuck your chin in and look down at the floor. Hold this position for 10 seconds, then release. Stand on your left leg only, and repeat the exercise. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. To progress: Place both arms across your chest and extend the duration of your hold to 20-30 seconds.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Legs ‘n Core!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Strengthen your legs and core with this balance exercise!

 

Stand on your right leg only. Bending from your hip only, lean forward until your torso is parallel to the floor. Lift your left leg so it is in line with your torso. Hold your arms wide to assist with balance. Tuck your chin into your chest and hold for 10 seconds. Release. Repeat standing on your left leg only.

 

*This exercise is for intermediate/advanced exercisers without injury concerns. Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

 

Add Function to your Fitness

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Get Functional!

If you’re having trouble lifting or carrying, try adding a Squat with a Bicep Curl to your workout routine:

Stand with your feet hip width apart. Hold a weight on either side of your body. Bending from your knees and hips, lower your body down about 12 inches, keeping your elbows straight. Upon standing up, bend both arms into a bicep curl. Repeat the squat and extend your elbows again.

If you’re having trouble bending or reaching, add a One Leg-Hold and Reach to your exercise outline:

Stand on your right leg only. Stabilize your torso and reach your arms forward, without losing your balance. Hold for 2-3 seconds, then return to your standing upright position. Do 10 reps. Then, switch and stand on your left leg only, reach forward and hold.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

Better Balance

Get Fit Quick Tip:

One Leg Hold

Practice standing on one leg to improve balance and proprioception. Safety is most important when working on balance. All exercisers should begin holding on to a stable object for the entire set until confidence increases. Slowly decrease contact with stable object to build balance load. Once you’ve achieved a 10 second hold on each leg without holding on, you may be ready for progressions. Maintain proper posture, with your chin up and chest lifted. Here are a few progressions to get started:

Stand on one leg for 10 seconds. Increase time to 30 seconds.

Stand on one leg and place both arms across your chest.

Stand on one leg and swing both arms forward and back.

Stand on one leg and look side to side.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.