FEED ME!!!
Your cerebellum is located at the base of the brain against the occiput. It is a very important conductor in daily activities that you do mindlessly – picking up your coffee cup, transitioning into your car, shooting a basketball, marching, painting, typing….the list goes on. Have you ever considered the accuracy that it takes to lift your foot just high enough to clear the curb or maybe thread your shoelace through the eyelet of your shoe? All these activities are coordinated at the cerebellum.
If you have experienced an episode of vertigo, loss of balance, repeated falls, or you bump into things routinely then you have experienced the effect of your cerebellum having a bad day….or days. There can be many causes of cerebellum dysfunction – dehydration, subluxation, injury, posture, or one in particular that I would like to discuss today – lack of input!
Your brain was made perfect. It is really unbelievable to think of the Master’s design from a scientific perspective – the lobes, left vs right hemispheres, neurotransmitters, synapses, hormones, peripheral vs central….it will literally make your brain fire! With so many factors and functions, it is essential for survival that your brain prioritize functions that you need. You’ve heard the adage; you don’t use it you lose it? Well, that applies to your brain as well. Every movement, thought, calculation, emotion, stimulus, decision (bites of information that you feed your brain) moves you into a more efficient version of you!
Unfortunately, the Master’s design can fail you if you let it. For every bite that you feed your brain, it is strengthening one path at the detriment of the alternative path. Sometimes I think of it as a pasture of corn. If you had 6 friends that lived around the perimeter of your pasture, you would wear 6 paths evenly if you visited them each once a week. But let’s say that you grew closer to one of those friends and over time, you just walked the path to one house. The other 5 paths would soon be unrecognizable, grown up and impossible to navigate. This is what happens to the paths to your cerebellum when you stop moving!
The excellent news is you can start today giving your cerebellum food that helps keep your functions as reliable as GPS! Just a few things to consider adding into your daily, weekly or monthly routine of activity – maybe a rotation of all things 😊
- Barrel rolls on the floor
- Karaoke – calisthenics
- Step up and down a curb without support if safe
- Figure 8s with your arms and legs – make sure to do both sides
- Squat – use the wall or a ball if you are working on building the strength
- Bicycle your arms and legs on your back
- Spin in a circle – make sure to go both ways and use support if needed
- Supermans, Planks, and Bird-Dogs
- Side crunches – you can crunch just your upper body or lay on the floor and incorporate your leg – again, make sure to do both sides
- Play catch
- Take deep breaths in various head positions – preferably while seated or laying down
Looking forward to hearing your stories of improved balance and coordination after giving your cerebellum some FOOD!!!
In Love and Service,
Dr. Taryn
Peace of Life Chiropractic 