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Have terrible balance

Suzanne

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
My feet actually won't move sometimes, due to be petrified of falling, when logically, I would fall because I am not moving my feet, but my brain gives signals out that it is the opposite.

When showering, I have to unstick my feet from the anti slip mat, because my feet of glued in one place, in case I do fall.
 
Have you looked into whether there could be a physical cause such as a problem with your inner ear that is affecting your equilibrium? I just did a quick search on causes of poor balance and that was the first thing on the list.
 
There are studies out there suggesting that autism can effect the fine motor movements, especially in the wrists, hands, and fingers as well as the ankles, feet, and toes. Most of these studies are in children.

When it comes to dancing or aerobics, where upper and lower body movements are required, I just cannot spontaneously do it. However, for example, in my experience with powerlifting where movements are repeated perhaps thousands of times, it can become very well coordinated.

When I am walking or hiking on uneven ground, I can go uphill, but I really struggle going downhill.

In many ways, I would consider myself "uncoordinated" and my balance is effected. So far, no falls, but that may be coming in the future.
 
Have you looked into whether there could be a physical cause such as a problem with your inner ear that is affecting your equilibrium? I just did a quick search on causes of poor balance and that was the first thing on the list.
I actually think it is due to a lack of walking, because many year's back, along with my husband, we did take up walking alot and noticed that I was walking with more confidence.

He retires this December, so hopefully we can go out for a lot more walks.
 
Walking would really help to strengthen your muscles. One of the most common reasons for people having poor balance is that their calf muscles are tight and not stretched enough. I have a wedge made of wood that I stand on several times a day that forces my weight onto my heels, away from my toes, and stretches my Achilles tendons when I straighten my legs while standing on it. I got it on the advice of my orthopedist after I slightly tore my Achiles tendon a couple of years ago. I love how it feels when I stretch my calf muscles and it is great for balance-building.
 
My Mama taught me a exercise alternating between pointing and flexing my toes when I was a child to stretch out that muscle because she figured out that was the reason I walked on my toes. The exercise helped me overcome toe walking.
 
Maybe an inexpensive walking pad may help, l just bought one for under 150 dollars. On days l can't get to gym, or the gym is closed, l jump on the treadmill/walking pad and feel so much better. Sorry to read you are having difficulties. Congrats on his upcoming retirement.
 
The first paragraph of article above:

The next time you’re somewhere non-embarrassing, try this quick test: stand on one leg with your arms stretched out to the sides, imagining that one hand is holding a rock. Next, the tricky bit: “pass” the rock overhead to your other hand without putting your leg down, then pass it back, and repeat the whole movement 10 times without losing your balance. Don’t worry if you can’t manage it: that means you’ve got something to work on.

I can’t stand one one leg that long. I’ve been working on standing on one leg long enough to put my pants on.
 
That's a great exercise to try @WhitewaterWoman . I was just reading that as dementia increases, we take shorter steps, so walking is very important. And somewhere else l read, if you can't bite into a apple with your jaw, you are on the serious decline. I am guessing you aren't actively using your jaw muscles? Being on the spectrum, you collect weird bits of info then try to assemble it in some form that may help you understand you can live longer, or you are checking out tomorrow of the Hilton Hotel of Life. Or if you think you are dating a celebrity and have given over your life savings, that could suggest a major decline according to Dr Phil. Of course, l try to add humor to our march towards death. Because the plain fact is we are all marching towards that final breath, that final laugh.
 
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