A lack of sure-footedness has historically been a tremendous generator of falls and injury. I cannot count the number of patients I’ve seen in the clinic because they have fallen. Beyond increasing the risk of falling, being unsteady on the feet often serves as a limiting factor for overall quality of life, because those who perceive that they don’t have the best balance frequently limit themselves to avoid the possibilities of a fall or the embarrassment that a fall can produce.
A vicious cycle ensues: The more they limit their activity, the weaker they get, and the weaker they get, the more their activity is limited.
