Super Simple Balance Exercise for Older Adults

Balance gets worse as we age.

And it can be a problem with our vision, our vestibular system (the inner ear), and/or our muscles.

There are a variety of exercises you can do, at home with no equipment, to try to improve your balance.

One of the simplest exercises, and one that we use regularly in our warm-ups at Strength School, is saccadic eye movements.

A saccade is a rapid movement of the eye that shifts the focus of our vision. Our bodies do this normally, about three movements every second.

But you can also do this at a slower pace, and it will help your balance.

All you need to do is stand with your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder height. Focus both eyes on your right hand, then quickly shift your eyes to the left hand. Repeat this 5-10 times. Then move your arms out wider and again shift your eyes 5-10 time between the left and right hand.

You can also do this standing on one leg for more challenge.

-Shane