Have you ever wondered how amazing the human body is? Injury makes you acutely aware of how your body compensates in remarkable ways. The last 10 days I’ve been struggling with bad vertigo and yesterday at Physio I was told to close my eyes and stand on one leg. I could not lift that foot off the ground without almost falling over. Balance relies on three key components: Vision, Vestibular Function, Proprioception.
Last year I was struggling with neuropathy, and I had to work very hard on my proprioception. I still feel that in my feet when I am transferring weight in my forms, it is especially evident in Tai Chi. Now, the vertigo that I’m experiencing is affecting the nerve to the inner ear (Vestibular Function). By removing my sight, my physiotherapist could quickly determine that vision was the major compensation that I was doing for balance. The physiotherapist is not sure if I will regain my previous balance, but it is getting better, and next week we start retraining my body again.
It’s amazing how many ways your body can compensate without you being aware of it. Be mindful and use those clues that we are given!
