It is not surprising, given that some 800,000 people have fall accidents every year, according to the CDC. Sadly, a large majority of fall injuries result in negative outcomes, with many resulting in mortality.
Therefore, taking care of your balance is critically important to maintaining your overall health, quality of life, and independence.
So, how do we lose our balance?
There are several reasons.
The first is simply a matter of “use it or lose it.” As we age, muscles and proprioception (knowing where you are in space) tend to atrophy if we are not actively involved in activity that keeps us fit.
Alignment issues are also a significant cause of balance problems, including rounded shoulders, scoliosis, kyphosis, twisted hips, knocked knees, pronation, etc.
Other common contributing factors include using certain medications, high or low blood pressure, stress, and eye or ear problems. And on occasion, just bad luck!
