BALANCE

Balance

In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the line of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. Sway is the horizontal movement of the centre of gravity even when a person is standing still. A certain amount of sway is essential and inevitable due to small perturbations within the body or from external triggers. An increase in sway is not necessarily an indicator of dysfunctional balance so much as it is an indicator of decreased sensorimotor control.

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balance

Noun

  1. a state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium
  2. mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed
  3. something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium (literally or figuratively); counterweight
    These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
    Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
  4. a pair of scales
  5. awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity
  6. the overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others
    The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
    I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
  7. apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.)
  8. a list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
  9. the result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
    I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
  10. a device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
  11. the remainder.
    The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
  12. Libra

Verb

  1. To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
  2. To make (items) weigh up.
  3. To make (concepts) agree.
  4. To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
    I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
    The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
  5. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
  6. To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
    to balance partners
  7. To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
    to balance the boom mainsail
  8. To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
    This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
    to balance a set of books
  9. To be in equilibrium.
  10. To have matching credits and debits.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: balance
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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