Why is this balance test so important? It’s because it is so taxing. Your brain normally uses three different types of information to keep you upright: your eyes, your vestibular system (a sort of spirit level you have in your inner ear), and proprioceptors in your limbs that send signals to your brain, telling it what is going on. When you remove your eyesight, the brain has to work much harder to keep you steady.

The New York Times Balance Exercises to Improve Your Strength - The New York Times

Amputeddy books are designed to voice the feelings of children who have an amputation or know someone who does. Todd’s experiences pave the way for communication and understanding. Barthello’s Wing: A Tale of a Very Brave Bug Tibby the tree swallow cannot fly because he has a crooked wing, but the other animals teach him skills that come in handy when a baby robin falls from its nest. Uniquely BraveAn inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in middle to later life is linked to a near doubling in the risk of death from any cause within the next 10 years. The results were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. If you experience a sudden, noticeable change in your ability to balance, Lowe says, you should consult a professional – whether it’s caused by a relatively benign inner-ear problem or something more serious, it’s better to be informed. But a slow, barely noticeable decline will be the thing most people should worry about. Firstly, the test results have been adjusted for factors such as family history of cardiovascular disease in the subjects, previous instances of cardiac ailments, and hypertension that can affect the risk incidence of strokes. So the findings of the test can be strongly correlated to the performance of the subjects on the one-leg balancing test.

Life on One Leg by Sutherland, Tom Scott: Good+ Hardcover Life on One Leg by Sutherland, Tom Scott: Good+ Hardcover

And sometimes, the relationship is causal – the World Health Organization estimates that 684,000 fatal falls occur each year, making falling the second leading cause of unintentional injury death, with a further 37m falls severe enough to require medical attention, leaving many more people dealing with disability or a shortened lifespan. In a story about a young girl who is questioned about her prosthetic leg by a schoolmate, the young amputee shows that she can rise to many physical challenges, such as running and bicycling. The two girls also learn lessons about friendship and acceptance. My Dad the Superhero! Amputee Coalition. Resources to Help Children Understand Limb Loss Fact Sheet. https://www.amputee-coalition.org. Published November 2021. Accessed [date].

With this book, the reader can be part of the story. Yadsi is a little girl who just happens to have a lower-limb difference. She is not concerned with all the fuss over her leg. She just wants to have fun! Many children like Yadsi wear a prosthetic leg, enabling them to be mobile. These children need to feel comfortable with or without their prosthesis and be accepted for who they are, rather than having their lower-limb difference define them. Oliver’s High Five A lot has been written about the debilitating and potentially deadly after-effects of stroke. That’s why many of us try (or at least attempt) to steer clear of junk food, exercise regularly, keep an eye on the scales, and sit on the yoga mat once in a while. But what about standing on one leg for 20 seconds? A little boy brings his older brother, born with one hand, for show-and-tell. The students ask him all sorts of questions about how he does things with one hand and realize that he can do anything they can do — he just does it differently. Along the way, they notice that we’re all different in one way or another, leading to the realization that not only are differences a similarity we all share, but they are also what make us unique — and awesome! Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

on one leg – and 16 other life-changing daily moves Stand on one leg – and 16 other life-changing daily moves

Kate was born with symbrachydactyly, a big word for an upper-limb difference. How does a little girl feel about growing up with one hand? How does she answer people’s questions? Here’s Kate’s story in her own words. The Making of My Special Hand: Madison’s StoryThe one-leg balancing test administered as part of the Japanese study also suggests an association between advanced age and postural instability. Small vessel diseases tend to affect people aged 60 years and more, and in this light, this association seems valid. The good news is you can improve your balance with activities such as yoga or tai chi. I practise balancing on one leg while brushing my teeth. You can find other suggestions from the NHS's balance exercises. It really is worth taking the time to work at it. The Cherry Blossom Kids and the Three-Legged Dog is a story about children with disabilities. The story tells how they adapt efficiently to their impairment(s), allowing them to function in the world and live productive lives. The Cherry Blossom Kids represent the everyday lives of many children with impairments. One child has a congenital amputation of the arm, one has spina bifida, one has cerebral palsy, one has congenital cataracts, and the other is accident-prone. Their dog has only three legs. The story depicts the Cherry Blossom Kids’ positive attitude, how they play, and how they participate in activities that parallel that of the able-bodied child. Along with the three-legged dog, they are living and enjoying life. Different Is Awesome