IMPROVE MY HEALTH
Balance After 60
What Can I Work On?
Balance is a trainable whole-body capability involving vision, the vestibular system, proprioception, the brain and the muscles. Explore static, dynamic and reactive balance, stepping and practical ways to improve stability and recovery.
Why This Matters After 60
Healthy ageing is not about one number, one exercise or one food. This hub brings together the explanations, practical actions and evidence connected with Balance.
Understand → Improve → Measure
Use the resources below to understand the topic, connect it with the relevant parts of the OVER 60s QoL Guys system and identify useful next steps. Measurement should support better decisions — not simply collect numbers.
Explore Balance
STAY STABLE — AND RECOVER
Balance Training After 60
Balance is not a single muscle or reflex. It is a whole-body capability that combines vision, vestibular information from the inner ear, proprioception, brain and spinal processing, and muscular responses to maintain or restore control of body position.
More Than Standing on One Leg
Static balance matters, but everyday life also requires dynamic balance while moving and reactive balance when something unexpected happens. Stepping responses are particularly important when the body's centre of mass moves beyond the base of support.
Balance Can Be Trained
Exercise programmes that appropriately challenge balance and functional ability can reduce falls in community-dwelling older adults. Effective training should be progressive and sufficiently challenging while still being safe for the individual.
Train the System
Useful balance practice can manipulate stance, movement, visual input, surface, reaching and stepping demands. Strength, power and mobility also influence the physical options available when balance is disturbed.
What to Measure
Track tasks that are relevant and repeatable, such as supported-to-unsupported stance progressions, tandem positions, controlled stepping or professionally selected functional tests. Near-falls and changes in confidence can also be important information.
Do not practise dangerous falls: People with repeated falls, unexplained dizziness, new neurological symptoms or marked instability should seek appropriate assessment. Reactive training should use a safe environment and suitable supervision.
Turn Knowledge Into Action
The Whole Body Health Assessment helps you look across health, capability and daily behaviour so you can identify strengths, gaps and priorities.
Start the Whole Body Health AssessmentEducational information only. The assessment and website do not diagnose disease or replace individual medical care.