Balance Awareness Week: Why Balance Matters at Every Age
September 13–19, 2026, is National Balance Awareness Week, a time to raise awareness about balance and vestibular disorders and encourage people to pay attention to changes in their balance.
When you think about balance problems, you may immediately think about older adults and fall prevention. While balance can become more difficult as we age, balance is important at every stage of life.
From children developing the skills to run and jump to athletes working to prevent injuries and adults wanting to stay active and independent, balance plays an important role in how safely and confidently we move.
The good news? Balance is a skill that can be trained.
Balance Is Important at Every Age
Balance begins developing early in life. For children and adolescents, it is a foundational motor skill that supports movements like running, jumping, and skipping. As children become more active, balance and coordination also become important for athletic performance and injury prevention.
Throughout adulthood, maintaining balance helps prepare our bodies for safe movement as we age. Changes in strength, vision, sensation, and the vestibular system can eventually make staying balanced more challenging, which makes continuing to work on these skills important throughout life.
The Three Systems That Help You Balance
Your ability to maintain balance depends on three major systems working together: vision, proprioception, and the vestibular system.
Vision
Your eyes provide information about where your body is in relation to the environment. They help you identify obstacles, judge distances, and use stationary objects as reference points.
In poorly lit environments or when your vision is temporarily blocked, your body must rely more heavily on your other balance systems. Vision problems, including poorly fitting or outdated prescriptions, can also make visual information less reliable.
Proprioception
Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense where it is in space using information from your joints and skin.
Certain conditions can reduce this sensation and make maintaining balance more difficult. Proprioception can also be challenged when you’re walking on uneven or soft surfaces, such as grass or sand.
The Vestibular System
Located in the inner ear, the vestibular system detects head movement, including tilting, turning, and acceleration.
Inner-ear disorders such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis can interfere with this system and contribute to dizziness or balance problems.
What Happens When One System Isn’t Working Properly?
Your three balance systems constantly work together. When one isn’t providing accurate or sufficient information, your body has to rely more heavily on the others.
For example, someone with decreased sensation in their feet may depend more on vision and their vestibular system. An athlete landing a jump without being able to clearly see the ground relies more heavily on proprioception and the inner ear.
When one or more of these systems becomes impaired, you may begin to notice changes in your balance.
Early Warning Signs Your Balance May Be Impaired
Balance problems don’t always begin with a fall. There are several earlier signs that may indicate your balance has changed:
- Uneven surfaces feel more difficult. Grass, sand, rocks, or other uneven surfaces may make you feel less stable.
- You’ve had close calls or near falls. Frequently catching yourself on furniture or reaching for something to prevent a fall shouldn’t be ignored.
- You experience dizziness, vertigo, or lightheadedness. These symptoms may indicate a problem with your vestibular system or another contributing factor.
- Your walking has changed. Catching your feet, walking more slowly, or taking smaller steps can be signs of balance impairment or decreased confidence.
- You hold onto walls or furniture. Regularly reaching for countertops, walls, or furniture while walking can indicate that you’re looking for additional support.
- You avoid activities because you’re afraid of falling. Fear of falling can affect your confidence and cause you to become less active.
If you’re noticing these changes, you don’t have to wait until you experience a serious fall to seek help.
Simple Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
Small changes at home and in your daily routine can help create a safer environment and reduce fall risk.
Stay active. Regular physical activity can help maintain strength, flexibility, mobility, and balance.
Wear supportive shoes. Choose properly fitting shoes with good traction, and avoid walking on smooth surfaces in socks or shoes with slippery soles.
Keep your home well lit. Nightlights can make hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms easier to navigate after dark.
Remove tripping hazards. Keep walkways free of clutter, secure or remove loose rugs, and avoid leaving objects on the floor.
Make bathrooms and stairs safer. Nonslip surfaces, secure handrails, and properly installed grab bars can provide additional support where falls may be more likely.
Keep frequently used items within reach. Avoid unnecessary climbing on stools or ladders by storing everyday items where they’re easy to access.
If you use a cane, walker, or another assistive device, make sure you’re using it correctly rather than relying on walls or furniture for support.
Balance Is a Trainable Skill
One of the most important things to remember during Balance Awareness Week is that balance can be trained and improved.
A physical therapist can evaluate the different systems contributing to your balance and identify areas of weakness or impairment. Based on that evaluation, your therapist can develop an individualized program to improve the systems that need additional support and strengthen the ones you rely on most.
Depending on your needs, physical therapy may include:
- Balance and coordination training
- Strength and mobility exercises
- Walking and gait training
- Proprioceptive exercises
- Vestibular rehabilitation
- Exercises designed to improve confidence and safety with everyday movement
Balance training isn’t just for someone who has already fallen. It can benefit children developing movement skills, athletes working toward better performance and injury prevention, adults maintaining their abilities, and older adults working to remain safe and independent.
Make Balance a Priority at Every Age
Balance Awareness Week is an important reminder that good balance matters throughout your entire life.
If you’ve noticed dizziness, unsteadiness, changes in the way you walk, near falls, or difficulty maintaining your balance, a physical therapy evaluation can help determine what may be contributing to the problem.
At Axes Physical Therapy, our therapists can evaluate your balance, strength, mobility, and movement to create a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
With 25 convenient Axes Physical Therapy locations throughout Greater St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Mid-Missouri, and surrounding communities, expert care is close to home.
Don’t wait for a fall to make your balance a priority. Schedule an evaluation with Axes Physical Therapy today.
