A harsh reality is that as we age our ability to balance and stay stable on our feet decreases over time. The good news is there are many things we can do to truly slow down the issues that lead to our loss of balance and stability. The amount that our ability decreases can also be sped up by certain medical conditions.
Disorders of the central nervous system such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Inner ear conditions like Meniere’s disease can cause vertigo or dizziness which affect balance.
Glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration which affect vision and perception.
Weakness in the muscles of the core and thighs associated with aging.
Peripheral neuropathy, damage of the nerves in the legs and feet, is very common in diabetes and causes loss of our ability to sense the ground below us.
There are several other things we ingest that can reduce our ability to balance as well.
Several medications can have a detrimental effect. Anti-anxiety/depressants, pain medication, sleeping pills, antihistamines and many heart and stroke drugs.
Alcohol in excess effects reaction time and coordination.
A proper medical exam to rule out any medical conditions and talking to your pharmacist to find out about your medications side effects are essential. Not using alcohol in excess will also keep you on more sturdy ground. In the short term and the long term.
Here at The Core we can assist by improving several of the factors associated with aging that can decrease your balance and stability. The first and easiest step we would take is to increase your core and leg strength. Did you know that because we sit too much our strongest muscle, the gluteus maximus, also known as our butt, can shut down and stop working? The exercises are easy to understand and even easier to perform. There are also several strategies we can introduce aimed at improving the nerve function loss associated with peripheral neuropathy. Specific balance exercises with both open and closed eyes would be an example of this.
If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Mississauga, give us a call to schedule an appointment. Let us help keep you moving in balance and with stability.
