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As the number of over 65s grows rapidly, concern has grown about the quality of life of the elderly. The concern is even greater if we consider that old age is associated with multiple biological risk factors like muscle weakness, reducing functional balance control or gait disorders, which lead to a higher incidence of falls. Of all these factors, our sense of balance is usually overlooked, and consequently, our loss of balance may go unnoticed for a long time.<\/p>\n
Thanks to research done by Grover, Atkin and McGinley entitled \u201cCertainty as a Provocation\u201d, we now understand that we cannot completely trust our perception of balance and quantitative measurement is needed to accurately assess our level of functional balance. And if we think about it, we hardly ever question our sense of balance! We take it for granted most of the time. Therefore, our goal is to promote knowledge of functional balance and self-awareness for the elderly when they\u2019re going about their daily activities, so they can identify what they struggle with most and work to improve it.<\/p>\n
The knowledge of what is behind functional balance or balance deficits is crucial in understanding why the elderly are more predisposed to suffer a fall. Being able to identify a balance deficit will help us take the necessary measures to, at the very least, reduce the frequency and the severity of falls, if not prevent them from happening in the first place.<\/p>\n\n