Re: I did not know this.

[Bob Muir <muirrob@UNCG.EDU>]

On Wed, 24 Feb 1999, David J. Hamilton wrote:

> crawford j maccallum writes:
>
> > I have a hard time lasting 10 seconds balanced on one foot with eyes
> > closed.  Age 69.  Seems to help to imagine myself skiing.  Do younger
> > folks really do better?       Crawford
>
> In college I tore ligaments in my right ankle.  Since then, I have often
> rolled that ankle.  A physical therapist told me to try balancing on that
> foot with my eyes closed and I found it very difficult (much easier on my
> left foot).  He said that much of the balancing is done through nerve and
> muscle feedback (unrelated to inner ear balance).  Apparently, I had
> suffered nerve damage which affected that feedback.  When I step on an
> uneven surface, the slight imbalance causes me to start to tip, I don't
> correct fast enough (until my inner ear tells me somethings wrong - too
> late), and boom.

Very interesting.  I mentioned earlier that I'm (soon to be) 61 and had
difficulty balancing on my right foot with my eyes closed.  I sprained my
right ankle so many times as a teenager, that it is still weak.  I think
my exerpience fits with the message above.

This is more fun than grading papers!

bob

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