While you may not consciously think about balance throughout the day, your body is working hard to maintain it. Check out what it does, and how aging affects it.
Whether you’re standing, walking or perched on a stool, your body is working hard to maintain your balance. Balance happens when your center of gravity is properly positioned over the base that’s supporting you, and numerous body systems kick into play to make it happen. When you get older, those systems age right along with you, making it tougher to maintain balance and more likely you’ll suffer a fall.
How Your Body Balances Itself
Body systems that contribute to balance include the central nervous system, vestibular system, visual system and a network of nerves known as proprioceptors. Muscles and bones also play a role, responding to brain commands and spinal reflexes that result in movement.
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system, and the brain’s cerebellum is in charge of movement and balance. Its job is helped by memories of movement stored in other areas of the brain, along with input received from the spinal cord. Working as a bridge between the body and brain, the spinal cord carries messages from all areas of the body to the brain while prompting reflexes to help you stay upright.
The brain is also part of the vestibular system and visual system. In the vestibular system, it works in tandem with structures within the inner ear to maintain balance. In the visual system, it works with eyesight to note your position in relation to everything surrounding you.
Proprioception, which we outlined in a past blog, is an essential sense that keeps track of the position, location, movement and orientation of the body. Nerves known as proprioceptors sense your body’s positioning, sending the information to the brain. The brain then sends commands to muscles, tendons and bones, and they move in response to the instructions.
Balance and Aging
Aging can bring on various bodily changes and age-related conditions that can result in a loss of balance and an increased risk of falls. A decline of muscle power and strength comes with the territory, as do a slowing down of reflexes and diminishment of proprioception. Bones also become more fragile, increasing the likelihood of a break after a fall.
The vestibular system and visual system take a hit when a reduction of hearing and sight set in. Hearing loss is often caused from permanent damage to the tiny hair cells that carry signals to the brain. Visual abilities decline, impeding focus, night vision and depth perception. Age-related vestibular disorders and eye problems can further diminish hearing, sight and, therefore, balance.
One of the more common age-related health conditions that affects balance is low blood pressure. Low blood pressure can result in dizziness, blurred vision and even fainting if you stand up too quickly after sitting or lying down.
Other conditions include arthritis, which makes it tougher to move or react, and peripheral neuropathy, which can impair proprioception. Stroke and heart arrhythmia can affect the amount of blood that flows to the brain, again giving rise to weakness or dizziness which results in a fall.
Parkinson’s disease affects the body’s motor nerves and movement due to the loss of brain cells that produce the dopamine that regulates movement. Multiple sclerosis affects the body’s central nervous system, hindering communication between the body and the brain. Balance can further be impeded by certain medications prescribed for age-related issues.
Although aging is inevitable, being aware of how the various bodily systems decline can give you a head’s up on where you need to compensate to reduce your risk of a fall. You can also engage in exercises to enhance your balance at any age, which is what we’ll discuss in upcoming blogs. Stay tuned!
REFERENCE:
- Better Balance: Easy exercises to improve stability and prevent falls. Boston, MA: Harvard Healthy Publications; 2014.