When you’re an astronaut landing on the Moon, you can’t rely on the same gravitational cues we have on Earth. But regimented training with sensory devices could one day prevent spatial disorientation.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Balance
Displaying all articles
Balancing well is a whole-body experience that develops over time and takes practice to master.
Lifestyle factors like physical activity, diet and sleep can lower the ‘biological age’ of your cells and tissues and reduce age-related physical decline.
If you want to use an exoskeleton to improve balance, a study finds that superhuman reflexes can help you stay upright.
While high-profile concussions in the NFL have brought renewed attention to the gravity of head injuries, they can also occur on the playground or during junior varsity practices – with lasting effects.
An anthropologist explains some of the many ways animals use their tails, from balancing as they walk to attracting a mate.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about motion sickness – but the balance system seems to play a big role.
Practising standing on one leg has also sorts of benefits, research shows
Learning that our brains process information differently when we’re standing up or lying down has implications for how we study and assess brain function.
Gymnasts need to carefully calibrate their leg muscles to gain optimum spring from the floor, springboard or beam. And their arms are crucial for balance and creating the right amount of rotation.
Blame your ears, your eyes and your brain. But mainly your ears!
‘Eccentric exercises’ are a normal part of everyday life – but they may carry some risks.
When you read in the back seat of the car, your eyes tell your brain you’re still. But your ears can sense you’re moving. Your eyes and ears are having an argument that your brain is trying to settle.
The public broadcaster tries to cater to all views, but sometimes that’s a dangerous strategy.
New research reveals how flamingos can stand – and even sleep – on one leg for so long.
These birds spend long periods, often asleep, standing on one leg. Is it passive biomechanics or active nervous system control of their muscles that allows them to do easily what’s impossible for us?
The fact we are almost totally unaware of this elegant reflex is evidence of the superb, undercover work the balance system does for us.
What does it take to keep a bicycle upright and moving, without crashing?
Our expert explains how our bodies’ many complex systems deteriorate, leading to an increased risk of falling.
Falling over and balance problems may be early warnings for Alzheimer’s disease, according to US university researchers…
Top contributors
-
Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University
-
Professor in Ageing and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University
-
Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University
-
Professor of Biomechanics, Edith Cowan University
-
Postdoctoral Associate, Rutgers University
-
Professor School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (Anatomy), University of Newcastle
-
Lecturer, University of Exeter
-
Professor of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
-
Associate Professor in Audiology, The University of Queensland
-
Assistant Professor, Exercise Physiology, Coventry University
-
Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (Anatomy), University of Newcastle
-
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York
-
Professor, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University
-
Lecturer, Audiology, Anglia Ruskin University
-
Assistant Professor of Orthopedics,, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
