Why Do We Lose Our Balance When We Grow Older?
Balance declines due to physiological and neurological changes
As we age, our bodies change in ways that can be surprising and frustrating. One of the most common and troubling changes is a loss of balance.
You may stumble more often, feel unsteady on your feet, or even fall. This is not just troublesome, it can be downright dangerous.
But why does this happen? What exactly goes wrong in our bodies as we age that makes it harder to stay upright? And more importantly, what can we do about it?
Why do we lose our balance?
As we age, balance declines due to physiological and neurological changes. The main reasons for the increasing loss of balance are:
1. Muscle weakness:
As we get older, we tend to lose muscle mass and strength especially if we are not actively working to maintain it. This process called sarcopenia, can start as early as our 30s but accelerates after 50. Weaker muscles, especially in our legs and core of the body, make it harder to keep our balance and recover if we start to stumble.
