Balance – The Unsung Hero of Active Aging
So here it is again, something Jen and I talk about a lot at Astral Fitness. Chloe has even been known to challenge people in meetings she has been attending to test their balance!
Balance is often overlooked in fitness, but it’s one of the most predictive and trainable tools for longevity. Good balance supports independence, reduces fall risk, and even reflects neurological health – yes you can keep your brain younger as well as your body with exercise.
- A study in Bicycling highlights that individuals who can stand on one leg for 30 seconds have the lowest risks of falls, mobility issues, and vision decline.
- A more extensive study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found those unable to hold a one-leg stand for just 10 seconds had double the risk of death within 10 years.
- Balance relies on sensory inputs, neuromuscular coordination, and strength, all of which degrade with age. But targeted balance training significantly improves stability and reduces fall risk.
- Regular balance work, like heel-to-toe walking, one-leg stands, and wobble board drills, helps preserve functional independence and brain-body connection.
- The Time magazine emphasizes balance as a core longevity tool, noting exercises that engage cognitive and sensory systems (like counting backwards while balancing) can halve fall risk in older adults.
Why It Matters:
- Falling is a leading cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults, balance training dramatically lowers that risk.
- Building coordination and stability maintains the brain-body connection essential for daily tasks and spatial awareness.
- Balance tests, like the one-leg stand, correlate strongly with mortality and functional decline.
Benefits of Massage:
- Loosens Tight Muscles in hips, ankles, and calves – improving range of motion critical for balance.
- Relieves Neuromuscular Tension, supporting better proprioception and coordination.
- Encourages Continued Practice, because improved comfort boosts confidence in balance training.
Want to stay balanced, and feel fit and strong again, but don’t know where to start? Sports Massage could be the answer. It is a very low movement commitment to begin your journey, when sometimes moving your body to get fit can be very difficult and intimidating. Especially if you have never exercised, had a long hiatus from exercise, or are dealing with physical or emotional trauma. We promise we will look after you and give you real world advice, support, and guidance. Talk to the older adults in your life about the contents of this month’s blogs, because it is never ever too late to start.
Find us at www.astralfitness.co.uk
Thank you for reading this weeks blog, Balance – The Unsung Hero of Active Aging.
See you soon,
Chloe and Jen