During this time of year, we face slippery sidewalks, steps with snow on them and lots of responsibilities that take our mind off where we are walking. This can cause us all kinds of trouble when it comes to falling. We often think that because we are getting older it's natural to lose our balance more often. But it is not! We lose our balance because we don't keep training our bodies to have good balance, especially after injuries, total joints, or any painful back or leg trouble.

Your body has joint and muscle receptors that tell the brain where it is in space. We call that proprioception. We automatically use proprioception everyday without knowing it. It is an unconscious activity, unless we have experienced some type of injury to a joint or muscle. If you have had any type of surgery many times your balance is affected and then the normal response pattern to motion is disrupted and we lose our balance easily. You then need to re-set the proprioceptors back to normal with simple exercises.

So check yourself. How long can you stand on one foot without holding onto anything? Can you stand with one foot in front of the other and hold that position for one minute? Can you stand with both feet close together, with your eyes closed and then with your eyes open, for the same amount of time? Physical therapists have special tests that they do to see if you are at risk. So don't wait, if you have tripped, fallen or lost your balance easily doing basic things you should head to therapy for an evaluation. Let your therapists teach you fun balance techniques to prevent falls and to make you feel like you did when you were 28.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff can be reached at Lake City Physical Therapy (208) 667-1988. If you think you or your loved ones are at risk for falling at home, at work or in our community please don't wait there is a lot of balance training exercises that you can do to improve your proprioception. Medicare and Medicaid pay for Fall Prevention Programs just ask your physician.