Continuing Singapore Gymnastics (SG) series of introductions about the benefits of gymnastics from Dr William Sands' comprehensive research, we now release one of the advantages of the sport.

Gymnasts are very good at both static and dynamic balance.

Gymnastics has an entire event for women devoted to the concept of balance - the balance beam. The men also have an event that requires extraordinary balance abilities - pommel horse. Of course, handstands are probably the single most recognized balance skills. The still rings in men's gymnastics is an underrated balance event which requires the gymnast to continuously keep the movable rings under himself. Gymnasts learn to balance on their feet and their hands.

Interestingly, gymnasts tend to develop a higher tolerance for imbalance or disturbances to their balance. Gymnasts do not react with as large a "startle response" to sudden imbalances as no gymnasts. This probably means that gymnasts can tolerate larger disturbances to their posture because they have become more familiar with these positions and do not consider them to be such a threat.