Whether you're a regular ladder user or don't use them often, you'll know that balance is a key skill to staying safe. Setting up the Little Giant Ladder and balancing it properly is one thing; however, maintaining our own self-balance is what keeps us safe. It's possible for a person's sense of balance to be impaired due to several medical conditions, such as ear infections and low blood sugar. But the issue can also be addressed by improving their posture and strengthening their muscles.
The best choice when working up a ladder for long periods of time is to use a platform ladder with a wider surface upon which to stand, or make use of an accessory like a universal ladder platform to make any leaning ladder more comfortable for prolonged working. It is also possible to improve balance for short, intermittent ladder use with some simple exercises if that is not an option or you just need better balance for short, intermittent ladder use.
In order to maintain balance, every muscle in the core is crucial. Many people mistake core stability as something only the abdominals do, when in fact muscle groups from our shoulders to our hips (even our glutes) are essential. By using a variety of movements, Pilates can help you gain core strength without using weights, machines, or gym equipment. Plank exercises, which work many muscles simultaneously and punish your core, are the most effective exercises for training your core. The hardest planks are the side planks, so work up to them.
The strength and flexibility of our lower legs are also crucial to maintaining balance on a Loft Ladders. For example, we need strong thighs for bending and twisting for long periods, so focus on exercises that target our hips, glutes, and knees. In order to make the workout more challenging, use weights to increase the resistance. Squats, lunges, kettlebell swings, and bridge position exercises are great exercises for working these areas.
Flexible hamstrings won't necessarily improve your balance, but they will ensure you get the most benefits from strengthening exercises. During your warm-up and cool-down, be sure to stretch your hamstrings - you should be able to touch your toes ideally or place your hands flat on the floor in front of your feet.
Wobble boards are inexpensive gym equipment you can use to train your balance - by standing on them and attempting to stay upright as long as possible. The wobble board forces you to practice your reflexes and ability to right yourself once you begin to lose balance. Once you have mastered it well, you can try throwing and catching a ball against a wall, or doing a few squats to test your balance. By standing on one leg and tossing and catching a ball against a wall, you can also assess your ability to maintain your balance while carrying out another task, which is exactly what you must do up a ladder.
When we are as stable as possible up a Little Giant Ladder UK, we are much safer every second we spend there. Improving our balance and strength has long-term health benefits, including reducing our risk of falling as we age, as well as keeping us healthy well into old age.
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