Take a Seat!

I started a new course this week and in the very first lesson, the instructor asked everyone to participate in an experiment. Upon going through the exercise myself, I definitely wanted to try this with you!. 

I want you to get down on the floor and then proceed to get up. That’s all the instructions you get. Don’t read on until you have attempted this. 

Waiting…

Waiting…

Waiting…

Still waiting…

No cheating…

Hopefully you gave this a shot. I know my instructions were vague but that was what was originally given to 2000 participants in a Brazilian study as a predictor of all-cause mortality that was published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention. 

If you were able to come down to the floor without touching anything you got 5 points. If you were able to get off the floor without touching anything you also got 5 points. For each point of contact you had to make you lost a point. So if you used your hand or knee coming down or off the floor those were deducted. 

The study mentioned above is one of many where the importance of getting on and off the floor held significant value to someone’s overall health. 

See how I did…

Using anchor points on both the descent and accent are normal. What is not normal is the inability to do either. Falling and being unable to get up can spell trouble. 

If you work with me you already know I make you get on and off the floor often. It is not because I am trying to make things more complicated or difficult but because I genuinely want all of my clients to have the ability to get themselves up should they ever fall. 

If you practice anything this week, practice getting on and off the floor. There is a ton of motor function, mobility, proprioception, and control that can be improved by practicing this very easy exercise that will translate into so many areas of your life.

I make myself get on and off the floor at least 3 times a day. I try to use different ways so should something be injured I have developed a plan of action to still navigate getting up. 

I know this seems simple but I promise working on this one skill can be life changing. 

Onward and upward my friends…