A balance exercise that is easy to work into your day (especially if you have an electric toothbrush)

[AnnieW55]

I expect many of you are already doing this. If you haven’t give it a go, nothing to lose but your balance 😀. Seriously though, make you are safe and have something to catch hold of if necessary - like the basin edge.

Just raise 1 leg for the 30sec timer or carry on for the 1min and change legs. That’s it. After that you can push the raised leg back, to the side, across the front. I also close my eyes while raising one leg when I’m feeling daring (definitely need something to catch onto for this). As the title says, you can work this useful exercise into your day and not take up any extra time.

I have tried doing squats at the same time as cleaning my teeth but it takes a lot of effort (and was messy for me) to ensure you are doing them in the correct form.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I do that! It’s a really good time to do an extra bit of exercise. The toothbrush timer is great for that. I tend not to close see my eyes when I’m standing on one leg these days unless I’m holding on to the sink. Squats are ok but I prefer doing what you describe 😊

[Hidden]

I used to do that until the dental hygienist picked me up on this and told me that I wasn't cleaning my teeth as well as I normally did. I told what I had been doing balancing exercises and she advised me just to concentrate on doing just my teeth. As I have to see the dental hygienist every four months, because I have Sjogren's Syndrome (dry mouth) and I don't know when I will see her due to the lockdown I make sure I just concentrate on my teeth and do the balancing exercises separately. But think it is ok if you don't have Sjogren's Syndrome (dry mouth).

[Hippy- in reply to Hidden]

Hi Truffled

Just read your reply to AnnieW55 in which you mention you have Sjogren’s Syndrome. I did not know about Sjogren’s Syndrome, how does it affect you and how is it diagnosed (if you don’t mind sharing this).

Bev

[Hidden in reply to Hippy-]

Hippy, Sjogren's Syndrome is having a dry mouth (that can wake you up from your night's sleep) dry eyes (that means you have to use lubricants) and dry lips. An optician picked up on my having very dry eyes and referred me to a specialist. I had a Schirmers test for my tear production. I had blood tests and some have a lip biopsy. Hope that helps.

[Hippy- in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for your reply. We all need to look after ourselves and each other. 👋

[Goldencbc]

I do this and also heel drops while brushing my teeth.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Goldencbc]

Hadn’t thought of heel drops. Always nice to do something slightly different to keep engaging balance.

[Goldencbc in reply to AnnieW55]

They are good for bone building too.