centre of gravity in people

[amoxon]

How is the centre of gravity measured in people.

How can you imporove your centre of gravity and what happens to the body when you do?

[vascop]

You could measure your centre of gravity roughly, by lying on a rigid board on a pivot - a bit like a see-saw - and then moving the pivot around until the board (with you on it) is level. Your centre of gravity is then directly over the pivot. This assumes that your body is roughly symmetrical side to side.

Having your centre of gravity high up in your body (top heavy) would make you more likely to topple over. Having it lower down makes you less likely to topple.

I'm not sure how you would 'improve' your centre of gravity.
Are you using it in some mystical non-scientific sense?

[wildwood]

Are you planning to rent yourself out as a set of balance scales?

[jake-the-peg]

I suspect improving in this sense means lowering.

Lowering your centre of gravity has advantages in some sports notably martial arts as it makes you more stable.

Of course if you're training for the high jump I guess you'd want to raise it.

More muscle in your legs will lower your centre of gravity

[Rev. Green]

The quickest way to lower your centre of gravity is to lower your arms.

At school, as a test of balance, we once had to lie on our backs on a 5cm wide plank (probably two inches wide in those days). The trick was to dangle your arms and legs to lower your centre of gravity.

[Teddio]

Become a Sumo Wrestler!

[rov1200]

They say that players like Geo Best and Wayne Rooney have a low centre of gravity which makes them more stable and have better ball control. At the other end of the scale we have that 6'7" tall England and Portsmouth player, although artistic looks like part of an octopus.

Shorter arms and legs help enormously.

[mibn2cweus]

For high jumping you want to position your centre of gravity outside your body

[dundurn]

Bend your knees and spread legs apart slightly. See judo, fencing, ice skating and surfboarding for examples. Lower centre of gravity and broader base makes you harder to knock over and gives you better balance.