Previously, we discussed the relationship between low back pain and balance, particularly our unfortunate increased tendency to fall as we age. Let’s look at ways to improve our balance by learning specific exercises that utilize the parts of the nervous system that regulate balance or proprioception—particularly, the cerebellum (the part of the brain that regulates coordination), the vestibular system (the inner ear where the semi-circular canals are located), the ascending tracts in the spinal cord (the “highways” that bring information to the brain from the feet and the rest of the body), and the small “mechano-receptors” located in the joints that pick up our movements as we walk and run and sends that information through our nerves and up the spinal cord tracts to the brain. Here are some very practical exercises to do (start with the easy ones):