This 30-Second Habit Can Improve Your Balance

Standing on your own two feet might be no problem. Lift one up to balance, though, and you might have a few concerns.Fortunately, there are ways to get a leg up on better balance. “Balance is not a trait—it’s a skill,” says Dr. Cory Calendine, an orthopedic surgeon at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee. One way to practice: Stand beside a sturdy counter, lift one foot, and work toward holding the position for 30 seconds before switching sides.Staying upright can be surprisingly humbling. “It’s free, it’s simple, but it’s also honest, brutally honest,” Calendine says. “It’s a good assessment of where you are.”Here’s why it’s worth practicing, plus how to get started.The benefits of standing on one legYou might not give your balance much thought, but it helps get you through the day—from stepping into the shower to climbing upstairs when you get home from work. Even walking down the sidewalk involves briefly supporting yourself on one foot with every step.There’s a lot going on to keep you from tipping over: Your brain processes information from your eyes, inner ear, and sensory nerves, while your muscles help keep you steady. When you lift one foot, for example, the muscles a...