The vestibular system is at the center of our sense of balance, without which we wouldn’t be able to walk upright. Along with visual monitoring via the eyes, movements are recorded and further processed in the brain.
The cerebellum coordinates motor functions and is home to various complex learning and mental processes. When the cerebellum is stimulated during balance training, your cognitive abilities and physical fitness will both improve.
Strength and coordination can diminish with age. Hearing loss, impaired vision and certain medications can further impair our orientation and sense of balance. For older people, falls can have serious consequences. In addition, many people develop declining bone quality, and osteoporosis makes matters worse: even light falls can break porous bones.
A health survey by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office shows that until the age of 74, 1 in 8 people experience a fall once per year. At age 75 and older, this number changes dramatically: 1 in 6 people fall once per year. 1 in 7 women fall several times per year; for men, it’s 1 in 10.
Ultimately, it is worth remembering that no-one is too old, too unexperienced or too cautious to try something new to improve their balance. After all, practice makes perfect.
You’ll be able to focus on the important things in life, because you won’t have to worry about falling anymore.