By 2030, 1 out of 6 people in the world will be aged 60 or older. As we age, our balance tends to suffer. This has a significant impact on one’s health and well-being, as it can make daily life tasks difficult to complete, and it often leads to falls resulting in serious injury or death. Let’s consider a few stats:
- 13% of adults self‐report imbalance from ages 65 to 69
- 46% of adults self‐report imbalance from age 85 and older
- 35% of community‐residing elderly adults aged 70 and older experience gait disorders
- Abnormal gait has been associated with a risk of institutionalization and death that is 2.2 times greater than the rate in elderly adults without gait disorders
- The estimated annual prevalence of falls in adults aged 65 and older is 28%
- 55.8% of accidental deaths in those aged 65 and older are caused by falls
(Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6383322/)
Good balance requires vision, balance centers in the brain & inner ear, sensory nerves, the brain, muscles and nerves to all work together. If there are issues with any of these components, balance can suffer.
When balance begins to suffer, it is critical to get to work identifying the root cause and developing a treatment plan to correct the issue. Be sure to discuss any changes in your balance or gait with your physician in a timely manner.