Human Balance System

Components of the Human Balance System

The Human Balance System consists of three parts. The Visual (depth, velocity and motion
perception), the Vestibular System (inner ear), and the Somatic Sensory or Somatosensory System
(proprioception and exteroception).

Vestibular System (inner ear) - The most important part of human balance is the inner ear which
contains three canals. In simple terms, the three canals contain a gel-like liquid called endolymph
and tiny hair cells. When both inner ears are working properly they give the brain information
through the central nervous system about linear and angular positions of the body with respect to
gravity.

Visual (depth, velocity and motion perception) - Visual input from the eyes send the brain
information about the position of the body relative to other objects, their depth, velocity and
motion. The eyes and the ears compliment each other not only to maintain balance, but also to
maintain clear vision during movement. The inner ear sends impulses that continuously adjust your
eyes in coordination to even the smallest movement of the body such as your heartbeat or
breathing.

Somatic Sensory or Somatosensory System (proprioception and exteroception) - The

Somatosensory System provides the brain two valuable pieces of internal and external spatial
information to maintain balance. One comes from internal sensors within the body called
propriceptors. Proprioceptors give the central nervous system information about the movement of
body parts in relation to other parts of the body. This is called the sense of proprioception. Without
the sense of proprioception, you would not be able to put food in your mouth without visually
watching your hand moving to your mouth. A common test for loss of proprioception is walking the
line during a sobriety test by police officers.

The other Somatosensory information the brain uses comes from external body sensors called
exteroceptors. Exteroceptors are pressure sensors located in your feet and hands that provide
external spatial information about the topography of the ground or support surface. Exteroception
also helps in your overall balance system by relaying information about ground movement. An
example would be the difference between standing on solid ground and sinking into mud.

How the Human Balance System Works

The human balance system has three distinct systems that work together. As noted in detail in Pt.
1 of this series, they include the Vestibular, the Visual and the Somatic Sensory Systems.
Together, they give you the ability to maintain or recover balance over your base of support (BOS).
The ankles are the most widely cited position of BOS and in many situations it is. But this is still a
narrow interpretation. That's because in many physical activities and sports such as gymnastics
and combat sports, BOS can be anywhere from the hands, to the knees, to the head and more.

Our three part balance system is generally ignored on a day to day basis and the least focused part
of physical training because it works sub-consciously like the lungs or the heart. You rarely think
about it, even in a balance recovery situation unless one of the systems is temporarily or
permanently lost. When this occurs you rely on the recruitment of the remaining two systems to
maintain or recover balance.
Have you ever been in a pitch black room and suddenly felt unbalanced? That's because the loss of
visual perception means you now must recruit the Vestibular and Somatosensory Systems to pick
up the slack. Another example is during intoxication from drugs, alcohol or from an injury where
the loss of proprioception requires recruitment of the Visual and Vestibular systems.

Without at least two of the three balance systems, you cannot maintain balance. This brings us to
balance training and the use of balance training devices. Despite the ignorance of the anti-balance
training community, study after study, both medical and physiological, have proven that balance
recovery training works. Especially in cases where one of the three balance systems is lost or
damaged, this can be achieved through the use of balance training devices. This not only applies to
increasing athletic performance, but also, rehabilitation, physical therapy and injury prevention.

The performance gains from balance training are the same as any other sport or physical activity
skills. From golf to football to extreme sports and others, to be maintained, you must continue to
train and work towards even higher skill levels.

By: Rick Contrata