STAND ON ONE LEG

One of the rotten things about getting older is we sometimes lose the ability to make choices about the movements we make. We could get stiffer or slower, develop arthritis or inner-ear issues. These things can lead to issues with our sense of balance, and when that goes, it can lead to a negative spiral of health outcomes. You exercise less because you find it harder to balance, which may lead to weight gain, causing you to exercise even less. Insulin sensitivity, blood pressure and heart issues can – and often do – follow.

It’s why researchers like Prof Dawn Skelton at Glasgow Caledonian University think we should all be doing specific balance training over the age of 45 when balance issues can begin to present, if not younger. It gives us a vital foundation for physical fitness, extending the years we spend active and healthy, and boosts our brain power in the process.

“By doing a balancing exercise, you are challenging your brain to constantly practise keeping you upright,” Skelton says. “We have to fight the urge to stop doing something when it makes us feel a bit wobbly.”

She recommends anything from standing on one leg while the kettle boils to tai chi and racquet sports. Anything that asks you to change direction or control your body in different planes is ideal. Do them often, mix it up and keep your brain guessing. Studies have linked improved balance with better bone health, lower risk of a stroke and lower risk of all-cause mortality over a

15-year period.