You Will Care About This (Someday)

  Getting old is no fun.

  People under 25 act like they are not getting older. As they get closer to 30, they fight and cry while trying to deny that they are getting old. After 30 or so, we are resigned to facing the future with ever increasing dread.

  After 40, it is all downhill. And some of that trip downhill is likely to involve falling (particularly for people who are over 55). If you do not care about this article, you will eventually. (And it will be easier to read this now, when your eyes are young, than when you get older.) And if you are old enough for this article to be immediately useful, then you already bought in.

  Falls are one of the more common, if underappreciated, problems faced by seniors. As people get older, they are more likely to fall and more likely to be injured in a fall (including fractures, bruising and head injuries).

  The best way to deal with falls is to avoid them by improving your balance. (In case it needs to be pointed out, if you are planning to use these exercises, you might have some difficulty with balance. If possible, do not use these exercises when you are alone. At the very least, make sure that you have a wall or stable furniture to balance yourself against.)

  WebMD offers a few simple exercises that can help to increase balance. One simple exercise is leg-balance: 1) Stand with your feet shoulder-width. Keep one hand on a chair, the other on your chest. 2) Lift one foot up and turn it to rest on the opposite thigh. Hold for 30 seconds. 3) Swap feet. Repeat three times.

  Another simple exercise is the Tightrope Walk. This involves walking slowly, keeping your arms out and feet in line. Try to hold each step for five seconds.

  When we are younger, fitness is about balancing diet and exercise. As we age, it becomes more about keeping our balance.

  Stay safe. Stay healthy.

  Sam Amado (samamado@weightbetteru.com)