Blog article

The stats

Researchers found that balance starts to wain rapidly after people reach 60 years of age. Just 18% of 61-65 year olds, 37% of 66-70 year olds and 54% of 71-75 year olds could not balance on one leg for the 10 seconds! 

In general underlying conditions that affected this were being overweight, type 11 diabetes,high blood pressure , heart disease and high blood cholesterol.

The worrying part is that after accounting for age, sex and health, the inability of being able to balance on one leg for 10 seconds was associated with a huge 84% risk of death within the next 10 years! 

So, what comes from this is that as we age we need to work on our balance big time. 

 So why do we loose balance as we age? Other issues besides the health issues mentioned above include:

* Circulation - as we age our bodies are less efficient at pumping blood around the body which can result in lowered blood pressure. This can make a person dizzy and loses their balance temporarily.

*Medications - Check for side effects as some like anti- depressants , sedatives and blood pressure tablets can cause dizziness.

*Nutrition - Low  iron levels and thus anaemia can cause weakness and poor balance.

* Inactivity - The less active you are the more you compromise your joints, mobility and muscle tone. 

So how can you improve your balance ? 

Staying active is the message. Build up to150 mins every week of moderate exercise. Walking, swimming, dancing, golf, tennis, aqua aerobics, Pilates, exercise physiology etc.  Also yoga, weights and Tai Chi. 

And actual balancing on one leg for 10 secs to improve balance. Then increase the time as you improve.

^ Hold onto a chair or table, stand up straight, stand on one leg and focus on a point in front. 

^ Swop to the other leg. 

^ Build up to not holding onto anything. 

^ Proceed to balancing onto one leg whilst brushing your teeth, waiting in a queue or at the sink.

Practice makes perfect.

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