7 . Can you stand on one leg for 10 seconds?
Just 15 minutes a day of practice can be beneficial, but do more if you have time. Starting earlier helps: try the exercises below on a hard, level surface. |
Easy Level: Standing on one leg—with your hands resting on a work surface if you’re feeling unsteady—see how long you can maintain your balance. Do this one while you’re brushing your teeth. |
Medium Level: For this movement, start from standing and take a big step forwards, bending your front leg until your trailing knee just brushes the floor. Then push off your front leg and return to a standing position. |
Hard Level: Try step-ups on to a step or box: put one foot on to a box and push through that heel to step up so both feet end up together. To ensure you aren’t using your trailing leg to help, keep your toes off the ground on that foot. |
Balance could be a matter of life and death. The World Health Organization estimates that 684,000 fatal falls occur each year, making falling the second leading cause of unintentional injury death. Some of these falls are caused by more serious conditions – but many aren’t. According to George Locker, a long-term practitioner of tai chi, a loss of balance is a medical problem that can’t be treated with drugs or surgery, despite its effects.
Increasingly, efforts are being made to remedy (补救) the balance problem among the groups already most affected by it. Tai chi, practiced by an estimated 50 million people in China, is an option. Studies have shown that as little as eight weeks of practice can improve older adults’ scores on the Tinetti test—a commonly used measure of competence in basic tasks such as rising from a chair and walking—as well as reducing fear of falling. Longer periods of study show further benefits.
Whatever activity you choose, the lesson is to work on your balance before you need to, not after it becomes an issue. As Locker puts it: everyone’s told to save money for their retirement, and nobody’s taught to save their balance. But both are difficult to get back once they’re gone.
1. What does George Locker think of a lack of balance?
A.It is costly to get treated with drugs and surgery. |
B.It is a minor issue that doesn’t affect one’s overall health. |
C.It is a problem without any medical solution. |
D.It is a problem that can be easily fixed by exercising. |
2. Which of the following best illustrates the
Medium Level practice?
3. What is the lesson conveyed in the passage regarding balance and health?
A.Balance is the top leading cause of sudden death from injuries. |
B.It is essential for those affected by balance issues to seek help. |
C.Tai chi is the most effective way to improve one’s balance. |
D.It is wiser to work on balance as early as possible. |