If we need another reason to lament the sad aspects of the aging process, how about the obvious deterioration of our balance? At 48, I noticed these phenomena happening in my own personal experience. However, I do not accept this new development as embracing the aging process. I did some research on what can be done naturally through specific exercises aimed at improve balance. These exercises can easily be incorporated into your daily routine in an effort to improve balance.
When I researched this site, I found that one of the biggest causes of the degeneration of balance is disuse. I read about astronauts, who are typically no older than 65, having difficulty regaining their balance upon returning to Earth. His system was abused in space. With age, many will become more sluggish, still contributing to poor balance ability.
There are several easy exercises that can be done to improve balance. Many of them can be done during the day where you will always find yourself. Here a few begin;
Standing on the Libra Scale
Of course, you don’t need a balance beam in your home to accomplish this. Any surface that is narrower than the sole of your foot will do. If you live near a playground, you’ll often find that there’s a photo prop that looks like a log that you can stand on and jump over. When I take my kids to dig, I make sure to stand on that equipment several times, paying close attention to maintaining good proportions. Hold your position for a full minute. You won’t do it right away, but it will get better.
Walking One Foot in Front of the Other
Doing this at at home a few times every day has done wonders for the ability to balance. I felt a difference within the first week of doing this exercise 3 times daily. Just walk slowly, placing one foot directly in front of the other, heel touching toes. The proper technique with this exercise is what makes the difference in the effectiveness of the exercise.
Standing on one foot
I find this ideal practice when standing in long lines at the grocery or wherever you always sit. Just alternate standing on one foot trying to keep your balance for 30 seconds or more. Once you lose balance to the other foot, repeat the procedure. Eventually, you will reach the 30 second goal.
Back down
My daughter’s country coach suggested this to me. It actually corrects the sense of balance quite quickly. It puts so many aspects of balance into play because of your body feeling in the prone position associated with running. If you’re like a runner, it’s easy to adapt to this routine more often.
Hopefully, you’ve gained some insight into some easy ways to address the loss of balance as you age. Before it’s too long, you’ll regain your sense of confidence, focus on yourself, and make your daily life tasks easier to accomplish.
