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Mayo Clinic specialist Kenton Kaufman says balance depends on several body systems that can change with age, and reduced steadiness can have multiple causes. Practice and professional guidance may help, but people with serious balance problems should consult a health care professional before starting exercises.
A Mayo Clinic Q&A featuring Kenton Kaufman, a specialist in orthopedic surgery, physiology and bioengineering, explains why balance may feel less steady with age and describes ways to practice it. The guidance matters because balance, strength and walking ability can affect older adults’ independence and well-being, while falls are a leading cause of injury among people 65 and older, according to the report.
Kaufman says balance relies on several systems working together, including the muscles, eyes, inner ear, nerves, heart and blood vessels. These systems can deteriorate with age, but unsteadiness may also be linked to medical conditions or medication side effects. The Q&A lists symptoms such as spinning sensations, lightheadedness, dizziness, changes in vision, unsteadiness and falling or feeling at risk of a fall.
Possible causes described in the report include inner-ear disorders, nerve damage in the legs, vision problems and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or cervical spondylosis. Some medications can also affect steadiness. The article does not say that age alone explains a person’s balance problems; it presents several possible factors.
For practice, Kaufman suggests working with a physical therapist trained in balance issues, or taking classes such as tai chi, yoga or Pilates. At home, he describes exercises including shifting weight from one foot to the other, standing on one leg and walking heel to toe. He advises using a stable support, such as a counter or table, when needed. People with serious balance problems should check with a health care professional before attempting exercises.
Balance and Everyday Independence
Balance supports more than the ability to stand still: it works alongside muscle strength and gait, or walking, in daily movement. The Mayo Clinic report says changes in these abilities can help clinicians develop programs aimed at healthy aging. It also says unintentional falls, most often resulting from loss of balance, are the leading cause of injuries among adults 65 and older.
The advice is not that every older person can prevent falls through exercise alone. Rather, the Q&A describes balance as something that may be practiced, while also highlighting that changes can have medical or medication-related causes. Recognizing persistent or concerning symptoms can help a person discuss them with a health care professional instead of assuming they are simply part of aging.
balance training exercises for seniors
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Several Systems Shape Steadiness
The report frames balance as a coordinated process involving sensory information and the body’s response to it. Vision and the inner ear help provide information about position and movement; nerves, muscles and other body systems contribute to stability and walking. Kaufman refers to research from the Mayo Clinic Motion Analysis Laboratory, saying that the ability to balance on one leg can be a reliable measure of how well the nervous system and muscles work together as people age.
The Q&A gives a simple home check: standing unsupported on one foot for 30 seconds is described as good balance, while being unable to do so for five seconds is described as a fall-risk sign. This is guidance from the report, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an individual assessment. The article advises people with serious balance problems to consult a health care professional before doing balance exercises.
““In many ways, aging is a balancing act.””
— Kenton Kaufman, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic
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Causes Differ From Person to Person
The Q&A does not establish why any particular reader feels unsteady, how quickly balance changes with age, or which treatment may be appropriate. It lists potential causes but does not provide a personalized assessment or evidence that a specific exercise will address a particular condition. The supplied material also does not give the date the Q&A was published, beyond its 2025 copyright notice.
The one-leg timing guidance is presented as a general indicator, not a diagnostic test. Anyone with serious balance problems is advised to check with a health care professional before exercising; the report also notes that its Q&A is educational and does not replace regular medical care.
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Discuss Changes With a Clinician
The report points readers toward a health care professional when balance problems are serious and toward a physical therapist trained in balance issues for a customized retraining and exercise program. It offers no scheduled follow-up study, new policy or next publication date. For readers considering practice at home, its guidance is to use a stable support if needed and seek professional input before starting if balance problems are serious.
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Key Questions
Why can balance feel less steady with age?
Kaufman says balance depends on several systems—including the muscles, eyes, inner ear and nerves—working together, and these systems can deteriorate with age. Other conditions and medication side effects may also contribute.
What symptoms does the Mayo Clinic Q&A list?
The report lists spinning sensations, lightheadedness, dizziness, unsteadiness, falls or a fear of falling, as well as vision changes such as blurriness.
What balance exercises does the report suggest?
Suggestions include shifting weight from one foot to the other, standing on one foot and walking heel to toe. The report also mentions tai chi, yoga and Pilates, and recommends using a stable support at home when needed.
When should someone seek professional advice?
The Q&A advises people with serious balance problems to check with a health care professional before doing balance exercises. It also describes physical therapists trained in balance issues as a source of customized exercises and retraining.
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