Most of the time your balance is running on autopilot, you move through the day without having to really think about it. We need to have balance to get up out of a chair, put our shoes on, to drive a car, or for simply walking across the room. However, the natural aging process does produce a number of changes that can disrupt our daily lives.
The ability to maintain your balance is dependent on three main components: 1.) your sensory system; sense of touch, vision & inner ear motion sensors, 2.) your brain’s ability to process information, & 3.) the coordination of your muscles & joints. After the age of 30, our muscles weaken, stride shortens, pace slows & vision becomes less sharp. However, balance does not necessarily have to deteriorate. In addition to an increased risk of falls, having balance difficulties can shorten your attention span, disrupt your sleep, & cause excessive fatigue. One in three adults age 65 or older takes a serious fall each year. Approximately 20% of women who fracture a hip due to a fall become permanently disabled.
So what can we all do to maintain or improve our balance? First, be sure to get 7 or more hours of sleep. Being sleep deprived slows your reaction time & is related to an increase risk of falls. Build your quadricep muscles, try doing a basic squat. Not sure how? Just ask us! Give Yoga or Tai Chi a try, these types of classes can increase flexibility & balance which will in turn help you to gain more confidence in walking. So start training your “balance system” just as you would your cardiovascular system, strength & flexibility.