Function at the Fringe: 6 Exercises to Hone Your Balance Edge

Strengthening postural muscles can help decrease your risk of falls that result in injuries.

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When we think of people living on the edge, we often think about jet-setters milking every last bit they can out of life—fast-paced and in perpetual motion. Truth be told, all of us live on the edge, at least some of the time, especially when it comes to physical balance. Humans in motion are constantly juggling balance and stability.

By way of example, try this simple experiment:

• Stand with your feet together and your arms by your sides.
• Try to stand perfectly still.
• Pay attention to the host of minor postural corrections your body performs to remain still.

Standing still is a highly dynamic activity comprising dozens, if not hundreds, of small postural compensations. 

Strengthening the ‘Fringe’

The problem is that operating at what I call the “fringe” of balance takes up nearly all of our compensatory abilities.