Ever seen a tightrope walker? Often, they are perched high above the ground, balancing one foot in front of the other as they carefully move forward. They shift their weight with each subtle movement they make. Their body instinctively counteracting every sway of the rope. Now take a moment to compare that scenario to you in your daily life here on the ground. Whether you’re stepping off a curb, reaching for something on the top shelf, or catching yourself from a stumble, your ability to maintain balance is critical, regardless of your age, but especially as you get older.
Why Balance Matters
Most people think that balance is just about avoiding falls. But they’re wrong. Balance is really a complex, coordinate effort between your brain, inner ear, muscles, joints, and nervous system. Neglect your spine and nervous system, and you neglect your balance. The potential consequences? One wrong move and a simple misstep can turn into a major injury that can affect your mobility, independence, and longevity.
The fact is balance is one of the earliest indicators of aging. An easy way to assess how you’re doing is to balance on your dominant leg with your eyes open. It might sound easy, but in reality, our balance begins to decline at 50. A Duke Health study found that people in their 30s and 40s could balance for around a minute. People in their 50s averaged 45 seconds. If you can’t balance for 5 seconds, that’s not good.
Regardless of where, or in this case how long, you can stand, balance can be improved.
A Strong Foundation for Stability
Think of your ability to balance as a three-legged stool. Without all three legs, the stool topples over. Without strength, coordination, and sensory awareness you topple over. Strong legs and core muscles can be achieved in the gym or with exercises such as squats and lunges. Coordination and reflexes are strengthened through dance, yoga, and practices such as tai chi. And sensory awareness or you body’s ability to sense its position in space can be trained by practicing the one foot stance or walking with your eyes close or on different surfaces like sand or grass.
Want to go beyond? Try walking in figure eights backwards or side to side to improve agility. Or try doing something like tossing a ball between your hands or reciting a poem while standing on one foot.
Chiropractic Care
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, your nervous system plays a key role in your balance. Subluxations or misalignments in the spine can disrupt communication between your brain and body, impacting your ability to balance effectively. Regular chiropractic adjustments help restore proper nervous system function, improving coordination, reaction time, and overall stability. Chiropractic patients of all ages, including professional athletes and weekend warriors alike, report feeling more grounded and aware of their movements after regular chiropractic care.
Healthy Longevity
Balance is one of those “use it or lose it” things. By incorporating simple exercises, engaging in activities that challenge coordination, and maintaining proper nervous system function through chiropractic care, you can preserve this vital ability for decades to come.
So, take a moment today to stand on one foot, feel the strength in your body, and appreciate the balance that keeps you moving through life. To make sure your balance will last you a lifetime, make an appointment with a 100 Year LifestyleⓇ provider near you today. They will keep you moving with grace and stability every step of your journey toward healthy longevity.
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