Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Mine is terrible, I have fallen several times lately. I know of a couple of old people where a fall was the beginning of the end.
Last Tuesday I just lost my balance and what would be a easy fall but I hit my head on the kitchen table in such a way that it bled so much and I couldn't stop it I had to call the paramedics.
I take a walk everyday for exercise and my very energetic Border Collie pulls me along which stabilizes me. But if she sees a cat she pulls me down.
If I can touch something as I walk that stabilizes me.
I go to two big churches on Sat. evening, one on and they have a polished cement floor, I use a cane there but it is still kind of scary, also non slip shoes.
The Sunday church I go to a big adult Sunday School both there and in church there isn't a good place to put the cane. Plus up carrying things and down stairs, and opening doors a cane is not practical.
Mine is excellent. I can stand on each leg, separately, for 2 minutes. I work out, legs are strong. I have been doing balance exercises for many many years, as I know balance can definitely be a problem in the elderly.
There are special exercises for improving your balance, and they do work. You should look into them; either talk to your primary care doctor or research them online. I have a friend who had bad balance, but it really improved after doing these exercises.
There are special exercises for improving your balance, and they do work. You should look into them; either talk to your primary care doctor or research them online. I have a friend who had bad balance, but it really improved after doing these exercises.
I would be interested in learning what those exercises are. I could use help with my balance.
I have vision problems so my balance problem could be related to that.
I'm going to have a carotid ultrasound in a week or two. Hopefully that will be normal.
Mine is excellent. I can stand on each leg, separately, for 2 minutes. I work out, legs are strong. I have been doing balance exercises for many many years, as I know balance can definitely be a problem in the elderly.
I saw something on the AARP site a year or two ago about tests to do with balance that we should be able to do and if we find we can't, some exercises to help us regain that ability. I noticed after those tests that I had lost some balance ability, so now I try to remember to do those exercises and test myself semi-regularly.
It is something I think we don't realize we are losing.
Balance was just fine until 2020 when a sarcoma on top of my left foot resulted in an amputation. However, I walk just fine but am concerned about inclines and declines and holes in the lawn. I have a foot with a carbon "ankle" attached and this does a good job of letting me know when I am not on level ground. Crowds are a bit forbidding...people pushing into you,etc, so I try to avoid. I used to be able to balance on one foot for several minutes and then on the right foot for another few minutes. You never know what is in store for you. Just happy that with my pant legs down....no one can tell I have a prosthetic on the left side. No wobbling and no side to side walking. I just turned 79.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,550 posts, read 81,117,303 times
Reputation: 57750
At 70 now, mine is not what it used to be. I can stand on one foot for seconds, maybe even a minute, but I tried that sobriety test (one foot in front of the other) just now and failed. More importantly, when I climb out the bedroom window to wash it or blow leaves/needles off of the lower roof, I don't feel nearly as confident as I did a few years ago. In fact I'll have my wife waiting nearby watching me with phone in hand.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I saw something on the AARP site a year or two ago about tests to do with balance that we should be able to do and if we find we can't, some exercises to help us regain that ability. I noticed after those tests that I had lost some balance ability, so now I try to remember to do those exercises and test myself semi-regularly. 
