Balance and stability are very complicated tasks that we continually perform without even thinking.  With osteoporosis rates skyrocketing improving balance has become very important in order to prevent falls and fractures—especially in the elderly.  We know that exercises such as yoga poses (tree pose for instance), standing on one foot, and Tai’ Chi all improve balance.  New research shows that music may be another tool with which to improve balance.

The research was reported in this month’s Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Therapy.  Researchers found that listening to music did, in fact, improve postural stability and balance.  Interestingly, they found that not all music was equal.  The best results came from a French female singer named Nolwenn Leroy!  About 70% of listeners to Nolwenn’s voice improved their balance to ideal, whereas only about 50% of Mozart listeners did (one unnamed U.S. artist elicited no improvement).  The scientists dubbed it “the Nolwenn Effect”! 

I know what I’ll be downloading off i-tunes next!

Read the research here.