Vibration: your new bestie for better balance?

"Brainy What-Why-How"

Your weekly nibble of science-backed goodness to help you move better and feel unstoppable.

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What (the TL:DR)

Vibration can be a powerful tool for better balance. 

I've been using my watch's timer going off on my left wrist, to help me on my wobbly right side in my one arm handstand practice. 

On top: my watch is doing nothing. On bottom: my watch's timer is going off, adding vibration into my left arm. 

Why (the geeky psychology)

Movement is about so much more than what you *think* about doing.

Your conscious effort — the “I'm doing single leg Romanian deadlifts and trying not to die” part — is only about 10% of what’s happening.

The other 90% is your brain doing sneaky behind-the-scenes work to activate what I like to call "anti-gravity muscles." 

Here’s the nerdy magic:

🧠 Your RIGHT sensory cortex receives sensory information (a tickle, a muscle stretching, or your watch's timer going off and vibrating) from the LEFT side of your body. 

🧠 When the right sensory cortex gets information, it also sends signals down the RIGHT brainstem to stabilise your RIGHT side (the reflexive bit).

⬆️ I understand if you need to read that a few more times. Here's a diagram that may help:

So when you add sensory input to your left wrist, ankle, or whatever — your brain fires up more reflexive stability on the right.

Translation: watch's timer going off = steadier balance in the opposite leg/arm/whatever you're balancing on. 

Neurology is so fun 🤓 

...And doesn't life work the same way? 

You can't always fix the wobble by staring at the wobble. 

Sometimes stability comes from somewhere unexpected -- the other side, the parts of you you've been ignoring. 

How (apply it to your life) 

Try this little experiment:

1️⃣ Balance on one foot (Warrior 3, single-leg deadlift, or why not...try a one arm handstand?🦩 ).

2️⃣ Take note of your wobble time.

3️⃣ Now grab something that vibrates.  👀 Yes, even that thing you keep in your nightstand will work. Hold it against your OPPOSITE arm, leg, torso, or even face, for 20 seconds or so. 

4️⃣ Try the same balance again. Feel steadier? That’s your nervous system showing off

...and a reminder that change doesn't always come where you'd expect it.

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​Adell 💋 

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