why do old people get unsteady on their feet?

            Most people do not realise that deterioration of balance does not just effect old people; balance begins to decline around the age of 25! 

Fortunately it does not become an issue until most people are in their late 60s or older. What is especially interesting is how the the number of seconds you can balance if you stand barefoot on one leg decreases with age. In the 25-30 year group, for example, the average eyes-closed balance time is 28 seconds. For 50-year-olds, it’s 9 seconds; 65-year-olds average 5 seconds, and 70-year-olds 4 seconds hence the danger starts to kick in when you get close to 70. 

There are a number of reasons people get unsteady but one of the main ones is that inside the ears is a balance center which is called the vestibular system it basically detects your position e.g upright, bending over etc. As you get older the vestibular system deteriorates as cells die off this prevents you knowing when you are going to fall with the result that the older you are the more serious the risk of fall becomes because you become less aware of your position and less able to take rapid corrective action.

You can test your balance easily by standing on one foot with your eyes closed.

A warning though! 
If you think your balance is poor (or even if you don't) it might its a good ideal to ask someone to catch you if you take a tumble or have a chair nearby you can use to grab hold of and steady yourself.

(I was surprised at my results, right leg no problem - - -  left leg took me thee attempts to stay upright).

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Taken in: UK / England / East Devon District / Honiton (show map)

Taken on: January 2, 2020

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Neil Moralee

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Camera: Nikon D7200, f/3.5, 1/400 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7200
Lens:	18.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-6.3
Aperture:	f/3.5
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.6 (Windows)
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