Health Tips

News Everyone Needs to Stay Healthy
By Betsy Dru Tecco
Better Homes and Gardens
Updated: Saturday, September 8, 2007

You know about cardio exercise for heart health and strength training for keeping firm, but when was the last time you trained to improve your sense of balance? "Good balance is just as important as endurance, strength and flexibility," says John Jeka, Ph.D., a kinesiology professor at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Once used solely for top athletes and rehab patients, balance training is now encouraged for everyone. "The adage 'use it or lose it' really applies here. If you don't work on your balance skills, you will lose them," says Kevin Steele, Ph.D., vice president of health services at 24 Hour Fitness in San Ramon, Calif.

Maintaining your balance allows you to perform better at sports, reduces the chance that you'll injure yourself in a fall and even helps you juggle bags of groceries without throwing out your back. "Balance requires good stability of the core muscles, meaning the back and abdominals, as well as the joints, particularly the hips, knees, and ankles," says Leigh Crews, a national spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise

For more health tips visit the official Jazzercise site at http://www.jazzercise.com

If you have any questions please consult your physician.