For the past decade, I have been involved with the training routines of the elderly, currently have seven clients that range in age from 85-95. And while it differs greatly from the training of world-class athletes, there is a degree of satisfaction that is no less meaningful. The elderly have reduced egos, few specific training goals and are more appreciative. If they can return for the next workout and maintain mobility, they are grateful - which does not diminish my efforts. As a trainer, however, I am bombarded with the challenge of "I need to improve balance" - a common request of all trainers. So, as good Samaritans, we run our elderly clients through a series of balance activities that are supposed to improve balance for daily living. I was never comfortable with the scenario.
First, I was not schooled in balance activities and felt inadequate despite devouring several books full of 'balance-improving' activities.
Second, I was not convinced that improving balance at specific tasks had any positive transfer to other activities, such as the daily-living ones we were trying to improve. So I read, and read.
Brian Johnston put it together nicely in his book Systems Analysis, in which he critiques various forms of popular exercise, including "functional" training. Johnston classifies balance as an innate ability, not subject to change. You have it or you don't. The improvement in the performance of skills specific to balance (those generally administered by trainers) were just that - skill improvement through practice. Balance improvement occurred specifically to that skill, with no transfer to other non-specific skills . "Other" skills were different - almost the same, similar to - but they had their own set of specifics, their own input of balance, an input different to that practiced in the gym.
Aside from making the elderly feel better about their balance (a psychological factor) and the effort made to improve balance by trainers, the fact remains: Balance cannot be improved as an ability. It can only be improved specific to a skill.
With apologies to the elderly, balance is innate.
First, I was not schooled in balance activities and felt inadequate despite devouring several books full of 'balance-improving' activities.
Second, I was not convinced that improving balance at specific tasks had any positive transfer to other activities, such as the daily-living ones we were trying to improve. So I read, and read.
Brian Johnston put it together nicely in his book Systems Analysis, in which he critiques various forms of popular exercise, including "functional" training. Johnston classifies balance as an innate ability, not subject to change. You have it or you don't. The improvement in the performance of skills specific to balance (those generally administered by trainers) were just that - skill improvement through practice. Balance improvement occurred specifically to that skill, with no transfer to other non-specific skills . "Other" skills were different - almost the same, similar to - but they had their own set of specifics, their own input of balance, an input different to that practiced in the gym.
Aside from making the elderly feel better about their balance (a psychological factor) and the effort made to improve balance by trainers, the fact remains: Balance cannot be improved as an ability. It can only be improved specific to a skill.
With apologies to the elderly, balance is innate.
No comments:
Post a Comment