how when you stand on one leg, the higher you lift your other leg above the ground, the more unbalanced you feel.
In: 4
It raises your center of gravity. Higher center of gravity = more unstable.
Why?
Well, you fall over when your center of gravity shifts far enough one way or the other so that it is over the air rather than over your foot. When the center of gravity is higher it takes less effort this to happen.
As your leg goes higher, it also moves farther away from your body. This moves your center of gravity farther and farther out, so you have to counter-balance more and its harder to keep centered. You can see some of this if you lift your leg up with your knee bent like you’re marching, compared to if you lift it straightened out-its easier to balance when you keep the leg close than stretched out.
When you lift you leg, you’re raising your center of gravity. This gives a longer moment arm (distance from the pivot point, ie your foot on the ground and your CoG). That makes it a lot harder to maintain stability. Think of how a high truck is more likely to flip in a turn that a sports car that’s low to the ground.
If you lean over 5 degrees, your weight will shift over by some distance.
If you lift your weight higher up towards your head, the same 5 degree lean will move you weight a further distance. Because of the angle, the higher you go, the further out your weight will be shifted for the same angle of lean.
That all means that a small unbalance will become amplified by how high up you hold your weight.
You need your other leg to balance.
This is especially noticeable when you are slacklining or standing with one leg on an unstable surface. Your other leg will move intuitively to correct your center of gravity to keep you upright.
You can see it here in this video:
When you bring the knee of your other leg to your chest you make it impossible to do these kinds of correction movements. I think it also makes it harder for your hips and upper body to move.
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