#21 - Knotted Physio - Why Balance Gets Worse With Age

Hello Everyone and welcome back to the Knotted Physio Blog! I hope you all are doing well and continuing to find ways to stay active and healthy. As always, I wanted to start by saying thank you for all of the support and encouragement on these blog posts. It has been wonderful hearing from so many of you and learning about the topics that matter most in your daily lives!

Today, I wanted to talk about something that many people notice as they get older, but often do not talk about until it starts affecting their confidence. Balance.

Have you ever noticed that you feel a little less steady on your feet than you used to? Maybe you catch yourself reaching for a handrail when going down stairs. Or perhaps you find yourself being a little more cautious walking on uneven ground. If so, you are definitely not alone.

One of the most common things I hear from people is, “I never used to have balance problems.” The good news is that balance changes are common with aging, but the even better news is that balance can often be improved.

So what exactly happens?

Most people assume balance comes from their legs, but balance is actually much more complicated than that. It is a combination of information coming from your eyes, your inner ear and sensors throughout your muscles and joints that tell your brain where your body is in space.

Think of it like a three-legged stool. If one of those legs becomes weak, the stool becomes less stable. The same thing happens with balance.

As we age, our vision can change. We may not see obstacles quite as clearly as we once did. The inner ear can also become less efficient at detecting movement and position. On top of that, muscles and joints may become weaker or stiffer, making it harder for the body to react quickly when we lose our footing.

And let’s be honest, most of us are not practicing balance very often.

I had a patient several years ago who told me she felt like she was becoming clumsy. She was worried something serious was wrong because she found herself stumbling occasionally while walking outdoors. After evaluating her, we found she had lost some strength in her legs and had become much less active over the previous few years.

The good news was that once we started working on strength and balance exercises, she gained confidence and stability over time.

That is one thing I love about the human body. It adapts.

One of the biggest contributors to balance loss that I see is actually reduced activity. The less we challenge our balance, the less prepared our body becomes when we encounter uneven ground, curbs, stairs or unexpected movements.

Think about children for a moment. They are constantly running, jumping, climbing and challenging their balance systems. As adults, many of us spend more time sitting, driving and working at desks. We simply do not challenge those systems nearly as much.

Another thing that can affect balance is leg strength. If the muscles in the hips and legs become weak, it becomes harder to recover when you trip or lose your footing. That is one reason strengthening exercises can be so important as we age.

And here is something that surprises many people. Fear can also affect balance.

Have you ever noticed that when you become nervous about falling, you actually move differently? Many people become stiff and cautious. While that seems logical, it can sometimes make balance worse because the body loses its natural movement patterns.

Now, I am certainly not saying people should ignore safety. Falls are a serious concern, especially as we get older. But building strength and confidence can go a long way toward helping people feel more secure during everyday activities.

One thing that I often encourage people to do is incorporate simple balance challenges into daily life. Standing on one foot while brushing your teeth, walking on different surfaces, or practicing specific balance exercises can all help stimulate the balance system.

And no, you do not have to become a gymnast.

Small improvements made consistently over time can make a tremendous difference.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that the people who stay active tend to maintain their balance much better. Walking, hiking, gardening, dancing and other recreational activities all challenge the body in healthy ways.

The body truly responds to movement.

So if you have noticed your balance is not quite what it used to be, do not automatically assume it is simply part of getting older and that nothing can be done about it. In many cases, there are things you can do to improve it.

Well guys, I hope this gave you a little better understanding of why balance tends to change as we age and, more importantly, why there is still plenty that can be done to maintain and improve it.

If you found this helpful, be sure to share it with someone who has mentioned feeling a little unsteady lately. You never know who may benefit from a little encouragement.

As always, Thanks for reading and Go enjoy the outdoors!