According to Colorado State University, approximately 9500 elderly Americans die as a result of falling.  Falling can result in hip fractures, sprained ankles, low back pain, and can cause psychological trauma among people age 70 and older.  Falling is the result of a variety of factors, some of which can be prevented, such as lack of physical activity.  While we don't have control over things such as environmental factors, often the fall that results because one trips over something on the floor would be prevented if the person had better balance and coordination.  This comes not only from strong muscles, but from practicing balance in a controlled setting.  

Balance is something young people take for granted.  Standing on one leg is easy, and we can do it with our eyes closed.  An interesting thing happens when you ask a 65 year old man to stand on one leg.  He looks at you like you are crazy, lifts up a leg, and starts to wobble.  The response is always the same: "I didn't think that would be hard at all."  Because it's not practiced in our adult lives, we assume it will be as easy as it was when we were 16.  Like everything, our ability to balance decreases as we get older unless we work on it.

That's the bad news.  The good news is balance improves quickly if one starts practicing it regularly.  When incorporated into a fitness regimen, people generally notice their balance improving within 2 weeks.   Some experts suggest that if you are looking to achieve optimal fitness, you should be able to stand on one leg with your eyes closed for at least one minute each side.  If you are able to do this, your chances of falling decrease.  Your brain will be able to right your body if you trip over something.  Working on balance is possibly one of the easiest and most important things a person can do, yet for some reason, it's often ignored.  Maybe because working on balance doesn't make your body shape change or burn extra calories, people put it on the back burner.  However, as corny as it might sound, working on balance might someday save your life.