A neuroscientist and psychiatrist shares 4 simple habits to protect brain aging

 You're on your own with these since your incompetent? doctor failed to provide protocols on brain aging, right?

And did nothing to get you BDNF or breathing or balance or diet protocols either, right? 

That is PURE INCOMPETENCE!    

• BDNF (213 posts to April 2011)
• breathing (27 posts to May 2016)
• diet protocol (222 posts to July 2015)
• balance recovery (54 posts to January 2016)
• balance training (16 posts to December 2015)

A neuroscientist and psychiatrist shares 4 simple habits to protect brain aging

• Dr. Gary Small is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist specializing in Alzheimer's prevention.
• He walks every day, listens to audiobooks to fall back asleep, and eats occasional "cheaties."
• However, he isn't too strict and doesn't want to "torture myself too much."

Throughout a long career in researching the brain and Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Gary Small picked up a few longevity habits of his own.

"When you're in this field for so many years, it's hard to resist following your own advice," Small, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist based in Los Angeles, told Business Insider.

Small, who has a psychiatry practice focusing on memory loss and is a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, said that age is the biggest risk factor in developing Alzheimer's.

"Thanks to modern medicine, we're living longer," he said. "The rub is that our brains weren't engineered to function well that long."

Still, he said lifestyle factors play a significant role in decreasing your risk of cognitive decline. Particularly, the ones that reduce obesity in midlife decrease your risk for Alzheimer's and dementia in late life.

Small, who is also the director of behavioral health breakthrough therapies such as developing a psychedelic treatment for depression at Hackensack Meridian Health, shared a few of the habits he follows to protect his brain as he ages.

He includes walking and balance training in his workout routine

Small tries to fit in some exercise every single day.

Besides being beneficial to your overall health, he said, frequent movement also elevates your mood from the endorphins. Exercise may also increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein involved in the survival and growth of nerve cells.

Small, who has a gym in his house, focuses on cycling for his cardio and simple strength training with resistance bands and dumbbells.

Additionally, he incorporates more walking into his day. When he lived in New Jersey, he'd take the stairs to his office or purposefully park a longer distance away. Now that he lives in Santa Monica, he and his wife love that they can walk to restaurants or run errands.

He also prioritizes improving his balance. "As you get older, if you trip and fall, that's not going to be good," he said, risking potential fractures affecting the brain. "Anything you can do to strengthen your glutes is really important as you age." He personally incorporates movements such as lunges and standing on one foot with his eyes closed.

He focuses on protein and splits entrees with his wife

Small said that no diet is one-size-fits-all.

He keeps it simple: "With every meal, I try to have a healthy protein and a healthy carbohydrate," he said, to feel fuller for longer. He also tries to snack on whole foods over ultraprocessed ones, as higher consumption of the latter is associated with a risk of quicker cognitive decline.

A typical day looks like a fried egg, cheddar cheese, and sourdough toast for breakfast; a turkey sandwich, chicken salad, or soup for lunch; salmon or the occasional steak with salad for dinner, and fruit for snacks. For carbohydrates, he prefers to eat sprouted whole-grain and whole-grain breads because they provide complex carbohydrates, high fiber, and a lower impact on blood sugar; or sourdough bread because it has a lower glycemic index and enhanced nutrient absorption.

He also tries to avoid overeating at night and likes to split entrees with his wife, which reduces calorie intake and may lower inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the brain is a risk factor for Alzheimer's.

Mostly, he tries not to be too rigid with his diet, which he said is unsustainable for most people. "People generally do have their cheaties," he said. "You have that bit of dessert or you have the cheeseburger — I don't do that every night, but that can be fun."

His sleep hacks include audiobooks and box breathing

Just like regular exercise and a whole-foods-focused diet, Small said that getting enough sleep also lowers inflammation.

"A good night's sleep is critically important for the aging brain," Small said, including clearing amyloid, natural proteins in the brain that can harmfully build up over time and are associated with memory loss and cognitive decline.

He also said it's common to have lighter sleep as you age.

When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he tries to do box-breathing exercises — slow, deep breaths that affect the vagus nerve and can create a calming sensation. He also likes putting on an audiobook, his favorite genres being literary and historical fiction, as well as autobiographies from comedians.

"When you are a kid, you like to have a bedtime story," he said. "It's a way of getting yourself out of your head and just drifting off somewhere else to get back to sleep."

Staying positive and relaxed

Small said having a positive mindset can be a huge asset for healthy aging.

When working as the director of the UCLA Longevity Center, he noticed that older patients who thought positively could adapt to challenges such as a sprained ankle and remain mobile.

In Small's case, he's naturally a "glass half-full" person. "I've had a fortunate life where I haven't had major hits growing up, had a relatively stable family life and friendships and did well. I'm very grateful for that," he said.

At the same time, even he isn't immune to gloomier thoughts. "It's a challenging world," he said. "If I notice myself going too negative, I try to pull myself in another direction."

Most crucially, he tries not to stress too much, including over his lifestyle. He said it's easy for people to fixate on getting exactly seven hours of sleep or 10,000 steps a day, but those numbers aren't universally perfect metrics for everyone. Plus, dementia and Alzheimer's are still impacted by genetics and age.

"You try to take as much responsibility as you can, but realize it's not all in your control," he said. He said being super strict with himself also feels too tedious.

"I want to live longer; I just don't want to feel like life is longer, torture myself too much."

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on MSN.

Design, Development, and Experimental Evaluation of an Intelligent Dynamic Balance Rehabilitation Platform for Stroke and Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Have your competent? doctor see if anything here will get your balance recovered.

NOT DOING SO IS PURE INCOMPETENCE!

Do you prefer your doctor, hospital and board of director's incompetence NOT KNOWING? OR NOT DOING? Your choice; let them be incompetent or demand action!

 Design, Development, and Experimental Evaluation of an Intelligent Dynamic Balance Rehabilitation Platform for Stroke and Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Shahinaz H. Abdelraouf*1, Khadija A. Abdelhamed1, and Moaez T Anwar1 1 Robotics, Autonomous and Interactive Systems program, Faculty of Engineering, MUC University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. * Corresponding author’s email: shahinaz.mohamed@muc.edu.eg https://doi.org/ 10.21608/ijeasou.2026.518132.1141 Received: 2 August 2026 Accepted: 30 August 2026 Published: 31 August 2026 

 Abstract: 

Balance impairment is one of the most disabling consequences of stroke and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), significantly increasing risk and reducing patients' functional independence and quality of life. Conventional balance rehabilitation approaches are largely therapist-dependent and provide limited objective assessment and real-time adaptive feedback. This paper presents the design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of an Intelligent Dynamic Balance Rehabilitation Platform for neurological rehabilitation. The proposed system integrates a motorized tilting platform driven by DC Linear Actuators, an ESP32 dual-core microcontroller implementing closed-loop PID control, and a multi-sensor subsystem comprising an MPU-6050 inertial measurement unit (IMU), two custom force-sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors, and a load cell for monitoring platform orientation, bilateral plantar force, and patient loading conditions. Rehabilitation data are transmitted wirelessly via Wi-Fi to a tablet-based graphical user interface for real-time visualization and monitoring. The platform incorporates complementary-filter-based sensor fusion for tilt estimation and is intended to provide dynamic balance training through closed-loop angle regulation. A preliminary, single-session bench evaluation with an able-bodied tester indicates successful integration of the mechanical structure, embedded control system, sensing subsystem, and wireless monitoring interface into a functional rehabilitation prototype. Under the tested static loading conditions, the system exhibited closed loop tilt control without observed oscillation, real-time acquisition of orientation and bilateral force measurements, and continuous wireless monitoring of rehabilitation parameters. In a representative single trial recorded across five loading conditions (neutral, forward, backward, left, right), the bilateral FSR sensors registered a peak differential of up to 460 N in the loaded direction, the load cell reading ranged from 462 N to 790 N, and the IMU reported pitch and roll excursions of up to +8°/−7° and +9°/−8°, respectively; these values are single-trial point measurements, not averages over repeated trials, and no independent reference instrument, uncertainty budget, or inferential statistics were applied at this stage. No stroke or Multiple Sclerosis patients were involved in testing. These preliminary findings indicate the technical feasibility of the proposed prototype and provide a foundation for future quantitative validation, safety certification, and clinical evaluation with the target patient population.

These 6 standing exercises restore balance after 60

 

If you can't do ALL of these immediately upon leaving the hospital, your doctor IS A FAILURE! The proper response would be to show them the door.

Pictures at link.

These 6 standing exercises restore balance after 60

Balance becomes one of the most important fitness qualities after 60. Strong balance helps prevent falls, improves confidence during movement, and supports independence during everyday activities. Walking across uneven ground, climbing stairs, reaching for objects, and changing direction all require the body to coordinate muscles, joints, vision, and core stability simultaneously. When balance declines, even simple daily tasks start feeling more challenging and less secure.

Many adults turn to yoga to improve stability, and while yoga offers benefits, some poses demand flexibility and floor mobility that can be difficult for older adults. Standing exercises often provide a more direct and practical approach because they train balance in positions that closely resemble real-life movement. These exercises strengthen the hips, core, ankles, and stabilizing muscles responsible for keeping the body upright and controlled throughout the day.

The six exercises below challenge balance from multiple angles while improving coordination, posture, and lower-body strength. Each movement trains stability in a way that carries directly into everyday life. Perform them consistently and you'll build stronger balance, better body control, and greater confidence during movement.

1. Single-Leg Stands

I've failed the one leg standing test of the Berg Balance Scale from the beginning, 20 years of failure so far and will never get better. My therapists DID NOTHING to get my one leg balance fixed!

Few exercises test and improve balance as effectively as standing on one leg. The movement forces the ankles, knees, hips, and core to work together continuously to maintain stability. Many adults over 60 discover that one side feels noticeably weaker than the other, highlighting imbalances that often go unnoticed during normal activity. This exercise strengthens the stabilizing muscles responsible for preventing falls while improving body awareness. The longer you maintain control without excessive wobbling, the stronger your balance foundation becomes. Consistent practice often leads to noticeable improvements in walking confidence and lower-body stability.

How to Do It

• Stand tall near a wall or chair
• Shift your weight onto one foot
• Lift the opposite foot slightly off the floor
• Keep your chest upright
• Focus on a fixed point ahead
• Maintain steady breathing
• Hold for 20 to 30 seconds
• Repeat on both sides.

RELATED: 4 Wall Exercises That Build Glute Strength Faster Than Squats After 60

2. Standing Marches

(Lack of hamstring ability and I can't get the left leg to hip height(unless I'm in a pool), failure of my doctor and therapists to notice and address that!.) 

Standing marches strengthen the hips, thighs, and core while improving dynamic balance. Every time one foot leaves the ground, the supporting leg must stabilize the entire body. Many adults lose this ability gradually because daily movement rarely challenges balance in a controlled way. The marching motion restores single-leg stability while reinforcing proper walking mechanics. It also improves coordination between the upper and lower body, creating smoother movement patterns. Performed regularly, standing marches help make everyday walking feel stronger and more controlled.

How to Do It

• Stand tall with feet hip-width apart
• Tighten your core gently
• Lift one knee toward hip height
• Lower slowly with control
• Alternate sides continuously
• Keep your chest lifted
• Avoid leaning backward
• Perform 20 total marches.

3. Heel-to-Toe Walks

(Partially doable, my doctor and therapists NEVER ADDRESSED my 

15 degree left angle of my left foot)

Heel-to-toe walks challenge balance by narrowing the base of support. This exercise forces the body to stay aligned while moving forward in a controlled manner. Many adults find it surprisingly difficult because it exposes weaknesses in core stability, hip strength, and coordination. The movement closely resembles the balance demands encountered during daily walking, making it highly functional. Practicing heel-to-toe walking improves body awareness and helps develop smoother, more confident movement patterns.

How to Do It

• Stand tall
• Place one foot directly in front of the other
• Touch heel to toe with each step
• Walk slowly and deliberately
• Keep your eyes forward
• Tighten your core gently
• Continue for 10 to 15 steps
• Turn around and repeat.

RELATED: 5 Bed Exercises That Firm Waist Thickening Faster Than Weight Training After 55

4. Side Leg Raises

(Doable but not very high. This one will be done since my gluteus medius 

complains at times and needs to be strengthened.)

Strong hip muscles play a major role in balance. Side leg raises target the glute medius, a key stabilizer that helps keep the pelvis level during walking and standing. Weakness in this muscle often contributes to instability and reduced confidence during movement. This exercise strengthens the outer hips while challenging balance on the supporting leg. Adults over 60 frequently notice improved walking mechanics and better lower-body control after adding side leg raises to their routines.

How to Do It

• Stand beside a chair or wall
• Hold lightly for support if needed
• Shift your weight onto one leg
• Lift the opposite leg outward
• Keep your torso upright
• Lower slowly with control
• Perform 10 to 12 repetitions
• Repeat on the opposite side

5. Clock Reaches

(Failure. I've failed the one leg standing test of the Berg Balance Scale from the 

beginning, now 20 years later(age 70) I still fail and will until the day I die.)

Clock reaches challenge balance through multiple directions while strengthening the hips and core. Unlike simple standing exercises, this movement requires the body to maintain stability while reaching outside its normal base of support. Many adults immediately notice weaknesses because the exercise combines balance, coordination, and mobility in a single movement. The reaching pattern closely resembles many daily activities that require bending and reaching safely. Strong performance demonstrates excellent lower-body control and balance awareness.

How to Do It

• Stand on one leg
• Imagine a clock surrounding you
• Reach the free foot toward 12 o'clock
• Return to center
• Reach toward 3 o'clock
• Return to center
• Continue around the clock pattern
• Repeat on both sides.

RELATED: If You Can Walk This Many Steps in 60 Seconds After 60, You're in Great Shape

6. Standing Knee-to-Elbow Crunches

I've failed the one leg standing test of the Berg Balance Scale from the beginning, 20 years of failure so far and will never get better. My therapists DID NOTHING to get my one leg balance fixed!

This exercise strengthens the core while challenging balance and coordination simultaneously. Many adults focus only on leg strength when trying to improve stability, but strong abdominal muscles play a major role in maintaining balance during movement. The crossing motion forces the body to stabilize while rotating, creating a greater challenge than simple standing exercises. It also improves coordination between the upper and lower body, helping everyday movements feel smoother and more controlled. Consistent practice builds balance, core strength, and body awareness at the same time.

How to Do It

• Stand tall with feet shoulder-width apart
• Place your hands behind your head
• Lift one knee upward
• Rotate the opposite elbow toward the knee
• Squeeze your core muscles
• Return slowly to the starting position
• Alternate sides continuously
• Perform 20 total repetitions.

Read the original article on Eat This Not That.

Immersive virtual reality to improve balance and gait after stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial

 You somehow think your hospital is competent enough to bring this in when they can't even get you music therapy!

And they should have working on getting this in years ago! You'll need to reconstitute the whole hospital, it is beyond repair!

• immersive virtual reality (23 posts to January 2021)

Immersive virtual reality to improve balance and gait after stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial

• Sauvage Chloé,
• Cabaraux Pierre,
• Rivas Lopez Luana,
• Therasse Anaëlle,
• Garbusinski Johanne &
• Baudry Stéphane 

We’re sharing this article early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted research. It is citable and carries a permanent DOI. This version is subject to further edits and will be replaced automatically by the final Version of Record. All legal disclaimers apply.

Abstract

Background

Immersive virtual reality therapy (VRT) is emerging as a promising tool for stroke rehabilitation, with evidence suggesting benefits for motor recovery. However, its specific impact on balance and gait, particularly in the subacute phase of stroke in clinical setting, remains insufficiently explored.

Objective

The primary objective was to determine whether integrating a VRT program into conventional therapy improves balance more effectively than conventional therapy alone in persons with subacute stroke. Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale, complemented by the Sensory Organization Test to explore changes in sensory contributions to postural control. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the effects of VRT on gait performance and to assess usability, patient satisfaction, and potential adverse effects, such as cybersickness, associated with VRT.

Methods

This pilot pragmatic randomized controlled trial included thirty-four participants who were equally randomized to a CT-only group and to a group in which 20% of daily CT was replaced by VRT. Both groups received the same total therapy time over a 2-weeks intervention. Functional ambulation classification, 2-min walking test, 10-m walking test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were assessed at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Sensory reweighting in the VRT group was evaluated with the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) at T0 and T1. Group, time and interaction effects were analyzed using ANOVA with post-hoc tests when appropriate. Spearman correlations were performed to assess relationships between improvements in gait and balance and sensory scores.

Results

Both groups improved significantly over time on all outcomes (p < 0.001), with no main group effect (p > 0.05). A significant group × time interaction was found for the BBS (p = 0.023), with greater improvement in VRT than in CT group. In VRT group, BBS improvement significantly correlated with the visual score of the SOT (r = 0.544, p = 0.030).

Conclusion

Adding VRT to CT in the subacute phase after stroke appears as an adjuvant to CT for improving functional balance, as reflected by greater gains in the Berg Balance Scale, and inducing changes in sensory integration processes.

Trail registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, TRN: NCT07409116, Registration date: 06 February 2026.

4 simple balance exercises you can do at home — no equipment needed

 You won't need these because your excellent doctors and therapists got you recovered so well, right! Sarcasm tag needed here! 

Videos at link.

4 simple balance exercises you can do at home — no equipment needed

If you’re just starting out with balance training, a routine of basic static and dynamic exercises is a great way to go, says Kimberly M. Burbank, a sports medicine physician at UCLA Health. The exercises are deceptively simple and easy to master. They require only a minute each — an entire routine is just five minutes a day. You can do the exercises at home, with little to no equipment, and you can easily progress with hand-held weights, if desired.

In fact, short investments of time, done consistently, is the best approach, Burbank says.

Good balance is beneficial for living a longer, healthier life — at any age. Check out our series featuring the latest research, a balance IQ test and simple at-home exercises.

EXPLORE THE SERIES

“Generally, five minutes a day is better than 30 minutes all at once if you can do it daily or at least three times a week,” Burbank says. “Because you can train the neuromuscular system by frequently challenging it. And it’s easier to progress, or become better at it, the more frequently you do it.”

So what are static and dynamic exercises, exactly?

Static exercises mean you’re holding one position and staying still for the allotted amount of time. They’re especially helpful for postural control — you have to maintain good posture to stand on one leg — whereas dynamic exercises mean you’re maintaining control while moving through space. They hone coordination and proprioception skills (the awareness of where your body is in space) as well as joint positioning (like being cognizant of how your knee is bent in a lunge, for example, and adjusting that).

Lifestyle

Hop! Skip! Jump! How fast exercises improve your balance

Aug. 18, 2026

“So standing on one leg and holding it versus a lunge, where you’re moving while balancing,” Burbank says to illustrate the difference. “Static and dynamic exercises work in harmony together — you want control while standing and control while walking or moving through space.”

Consider static and dynamic exercises “the meat and potatoes” of balance training, Burbank says.

“They allow you to build a great balance foundation that you can then build upon with more complex balance training maneuvers or activities that require more balance — you can then go take that surf class or hop on a skateboard. Or, for older populations, safely walk through Disney World with more confidence knowing there’s a less likelihood of falling. It’s about confidence in day-to-day living.”

Here are four of Burbank’s favorite static and dynamic exercises to help you strengthen your balance. They’re demonstrated by Los Angeles Times staffer Christopher Buchanan.

1. Static airplane shallow squat (to build hip stability and balance control). Stand on one leg and slightly bend your standing knee. Lean your chest forward while extending the other leg behind you like an airplane. Hold for 5-10 seconds per side, for 2-3 sets per side, with 30-45 seconds rest between sets. (To progress the exercise, increase the depth of the squat and/or hold light weights.)

2. Static side lean balance hold (to challenge side-to-side stability and core strength). Stand tall on one leg and gently lean your upper body to one side while maintaining your balance. Hold for 15-20 seconds per side, for 2 reps per side, with 15-30 seconds rest between sets. (To progress the exercise, hold a small weight in one hand or add opposite arm reaches.)

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Why the ancient art of tai chi is modern science’s gold standard for balance training

Aug. 18, 2026

3. Dynamic heel-to-toe walk (to train walking balance and coordination). Walk in a straight line placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other foot. Take 15-20 steps, for 2-3 reps, with 30 seconds between reps. (To progress the exercise, walk backward or perform it on an uneven surface, such as grass or sand.)

4. Dynamic body weight lunges (to strengthen the legs, hips and core while improving balance during movement). Step one foot forward and lower your body until both knees are bent, ideally at a 90-degree angle. Push back up and switch sides. Do 8-12 reps per side, for 2-3 sets, with 45-60 seconds rest between sets. (To progress the exercise, hold light dumbbells or increase the depth of the lunge.)

Now that you are familiar with beginner balance exercises, try these powerful — and impactful — plyometric exercises for improving balance. 

Struggling with balance as you age? Experts say there might be a simple solution.

 

I use the BOSU(Both Sides Up) ball for this purpose, round side down, more challenging but less likely to roll the ankle.

I always preferred the round side down, although harder to get on it, it had less chance of rolling an ankle and more challenging.

Struggling with balance as you age? Experts say there might be a simple solution.

The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.

Experts tell us that balance is something that can likely decline with age, unless you take measures to train it — a worthwhile endeavor, according to Annalise Calo, physical therapist at WAVE Physical Therapy & Pilates in Ohio at the time she was originally interviewed for this story. She said the risks associated with weaker balance come from a person’s reduced ability to quickly recruit the muscles needed to prevent a fall, which can lead to increased mortality in the case of pelvic fractures, some studies show. After coming across this popular $21 “balancing disc” online, we asked Calo if this is as effective a training tool as reviewers claim it is.

“These discs can be helpful when used in the right context,” Calo said of balancing tools like the ProsourceFit disc, which is a 15-inch inflatable cushion that can be used to perform a number of balancing and core-strengthening exercises. ”[They] move as your weight shifts, helping to improve proprioception (awareness of your position in space) and reaction time.”

Calo notes that a disc like this shouldn’t be first in line for balance training, but rather used as an adjunct tool, and it’s not for people who have severely compromised balance. Someone should be able to stand for at least 30 seconds in certain positions — with one foot in front of the other, for example, or on one leg only — if they are going to use this tool.

Calo also indicated that posture is something that is additionally impacted by age, “due to reduced joint space or disc height and decreased proximal muscle strength, which normally helps keep the body more upright,” she said.

Related video: How much should you be able to walk according to your age? (Welltica+)The ProscourceFit disc aims to engage multiple core muscles that are required for maintaining a healthy posture, and can even be placed behind the back while sitting to provide support or as a cushion to help reduce sedentary habits while sitting for long periods of time. This is important to note because, as Calo pointed out, sitting more frequently can reduce hip flexor mobility, which also leads to a more bent-over posture.

“This pillow is particularly good when sitting at a computer. It allows me to move my spine as I sit. So much better than being locked in a postural slump. I also like being boosted a couple of inches taller, which helps with the angle of my hands on a keyboard,” one Amazon customer said.

Made with a dual-textured surface on both sides to prevent slipping, the disc can be inflated to your preferred firmness and intensity levels. The device will be more supportive when filled to capacity with air, making it easier to stand on. You can deflate the cushion to create a less stable surface and challenge yourself further. 

“You can stand on these discs with both legs or a single leg. If you have mastered those activities, you can work towards closing your eyes while standing on one or both legs,” Calo said.

She said that you can even get more advanced and stand on the disc while passing a weight from hand to hand, or place the disc on a step and step up and down onto it, paying close attention that there is no risk of slipping.

One ProsourceFit balancing disc reviewer claimed that they used to have trouble walking, often tripping. Then, after about two weeks of regular use with the disc, they noticed a big difference.

“I now have more confidence in walking and getting in and out of the bathtub,” they wrote.

Before you try out these discs for yourself, Calo cautions that many older adults have worse balance than they realize and should see a professional, like a physical therapist, to assess it before training independently. 

Promising Amazon reviews: 

″I really like my balance disks. Had trouble walking, tripping n very unsteady. I now have more confidence in walking and getting in n out of the bathtub. I use mine most days 3 times a day. I stand balancing then I do a light bounce about 10 minutes at a time. I use mine close to the kitchen sink or counter so I have something to grab if I loose balance. Sooo glad I have them. Made a big difference in about a 2 weeks.” — Pamela Woodard

“Everyone in my house uses this! Best $10 I’ve spent. Really works your core strength while balancing. I do some yoga poses and I can definitely feel a difference.” — yvette c

“I bought this to work on my one leg balance, and it has done a great job! Easy to inflate, and perfect size for practicing standing on one leg. After practicing on this, my balance on the floor is greatly improved. Well worth the price just for that.” — Annie C.

“I use this on my office chair for balance and posture. It allows me to ‘free sit’, encourages me to move and balance - thus strengthening my core muscles, keep my spine flexible and strengthen my back up to my shoulders.

I’m still recovering from being rear ended, and this is an easy tool to get more of a work out all day every day. It is helpful for balance - standing on it as well. It has helped re-train my brain through dizziness and balance issues.” — Nancy Horne

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.