Sense of Balance

Fall prevention is one of our most popular workshops, and for good reason, falling kills more women than breast cancer. This is scary, and we recognize the danger of falls as we get older.

One in three adults over age 65 takes a serious tumble each year. Avoiding falls may mean a longer life: About 20% of women who fracture a hip become permanently disabled, and another 20% die within a year

One way to prevent falls is to work on our sense of balance. A sense of stability doesn't just help protect you from future falls. There are immediate health benefits that can help us stay healthier because we are more inclined to exercise as we no longer fear losing our balance and falling.

We are often unaware that our sense of coordination is slipping. Coordination is a complex skill that requires good balance, but also good levels of other fitness components such as strength and agility.

When we were young, we were able to very easily (for many, not all) move and use our bodies effectively. My grandson is a person who can use his body effectively when he does his double front flips on his trampoline. 

As we age, we have to work harder to keep our sense of balance and to keep our coordination. There are two types of balance: static and dynamic. Static balance is maintaining equilibrium when stationary, while dynamic balance is maintaining equilibrium when moving. We use our eyes, ears and 'body sense' to help retain our balance. The good news is that both balance and coordination can be improved through practice and training. By keeping good balance and coordination we can prevent our risk of falling.