WE ALL know that as we age, we are less steady on our feet, but why does that happen and how can we change it?
Recently there have been studies showing that your ability to balance on one leg for ten seconds is reflective of your mortality.
Those who cannot reach the then second threshold are more likely to die within the next seven years. There are other studies showing a similar pattern but with different parameters.
They all point to the same thing – the better your balance the better longevity you have.
What is Balance?
Basically there are three body systems that come together to give you information about where your body is in space.
Your vision, your proprioception (ability to feel your body in space) and your vestibular system (in your ears) all work together to inform your brain.
As we age, these systems deteriorate and we can also have injuries or pathologies which affect our balance.
However the good news is that we can improve it with targeted exercises and progressions of those exercises, as well as a strengthening program specifically designed for the individual.
We can improve our balance and live a more active, potentially longer life.
Your physio will be able to help identify the cause of your balance problems and either treat it, refer you on to a specialist who can help, or help you through a program which will target your specific needs.
