Debunking the Myths of Balance Training: It’s Time to Rethink How We Train Balance

For years, we’ve been taught that effective balance training means stepping off solid ground and onto unstable surfaces like a Bosu ball or foam pad.

Traditional training models suggest that by challenging joint stability in these environments—often labeled "proprioceptive-rich"—we can improve balance and reduce the risk of falls in real life.

Most therapists and personal trainers have an arsenal of unstable surfaces to make “balance” better.  Many have tried to debunk this myth that training on stable ground is better, closing your eyes is harder (yep!), but we need to really understand what balance is.

What if we told you this approach to balance training is fundamentally flawed?

At Next Level Neuro, we believe that true balance goes far beyond simply training your joints to handle instability. Balance is governed by higher-order systems in your brain—specifically, your visual and vestibular systems, which play far more crucial roles in maintaining equilibrium than the proprioceptive system alone.

Why Traditional Balance Training Misses the Mark

When you jump on an unstable surface like a Bosu ball, yes, you do increase proprioceptive input. But let’s take a closer look at what happens to your head and how it moves in that environment.

As soon as you step onto an unstable surface, your body responds by keeping your head as still as possible.

Why?

Because your brain perceives the instability as a threat, and by minimizing head movement, it’s trying to prevent a fall.

But here’s the kicker: In real life, we never encounter situations where we stand on wobbly surfaces for extended periods.

Instead, our balance is constantly challenged while moving our heads—whether we’re walking and turning our heads to look at something or navigating a busy environment with distractions.

That’s where the traditional models fall short. They focus on proprioception but ignore the fact that balance in daily life depends on the interaction of your visual and vestibular systems.

These systems are responsible for processing spatial information, keeping your head and eyes in sync, and allowing you to move fluidly without losing your balance.

The Real Secret to Better Balance: Train Your Brain

To improve balance, you need targeted neuro-training that addresses the visual and vestibular systems.

Here’s why:

- Visual System: Your eyes provide your brain with crucial information about your surroundings. They help orient your body in space, ensuring you stay upright and don’t trip or fall when moving.

- Vestibular System: This system, located in your inner ear, monitors your head movements and how they relate to your body’s position. It works hand-in-hand with your vision to maintain equilibrium.

While your proprioceptive system does play a role in balance, it’s secondary to the combined efforts of your visual and vestibular systems.

So, if your balance training isn’t focusing on these areas, you’re missing out on the biggest opportunities to improve stability and reduce fall risks.

Why Unstable Surface Training Isn’t Enough

Think about walking through a park. You’re strolling forward, and something off to the side catches your attention. To keep walking in a straight line while turning your head to look, your visual and vestibular systems must work together in real-time.

Traditional balance training, like using Bosu balls and foam pads, doesn’t prepare your brain for these real-life challenges.

All it does is overload the proprioceptive system, which, as we've seen, isn’t the key player when it comes to improving real-world balance.

How to Train Your Balance the Right Way

At Next Level Neuro, we believe the key to lasting improvements in balance is neuro training that targets the right systems.

By focusing on the visual and vestibular systems, you can teach your brain to maintain balance during dynamic, real-world situations, not just while standing on a foam pad.

Our programs are designed to make neuro training accessible and applicable to everyone, no matter your background. You don’t need to know the intricacies of neuroanatomy to apply these principles to your training. 

Our mission is to normalize neuro and make it a topic everyone talks about and understand that everything above the neck drives everything below the neck.  We want your visual and vestibular training as common as your posture training (in fact they actually are)

For more information on how we approach balance from a neuro perspective and train it, visit Next Level Neuro and contact us. 

Train Your Brain for Better Balance

Forget about the foam pads and Bosu balls. True balance training starts with your brain.

By targeting the higher-order systems that control your equilibrium—the visual and vestibular systems—you can make meaningful, lasting improvements to your balance that will help you in real-life situations.

Don’t just take our word for it. Explore our neuro-based approach to balance training and see for yourself how training your brain can transform the way you move through the world.