New Research & Data
Effects of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization on Balance, Gait, and Quality of Life in Older Adults
Nature (Scientific Reports)
Peer-reviewed research finds that age-related declines in neuromuscular and sensory systems substantially raise fall risk and erode independence, and tests a stabilization-based intervention to address it.
UpRight POV: Indeed balance is a modifiable, trainable physical quality—poor balance is not an inevitable casualty of aging. We like to see research that complements our mission in this way.
Hearing Loss and Dementia Risk, What New Research Shows
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
New research finds communities with higher rates of hearing difficulty also have higher fall rates, reinforcing that hearing loss rarely operates in isolation from broader functional decline.
UpRight POV: Another reminder that fall risk is multi-system—a strong argument for holistic, continuous monitoring rather than single-factor screening.
Maintaining Your Balance: Health Tips & News
This 10-Second Balance Test May Help Predict How Long You’ll Live, Research Shows
TODAY.com
Revisiting a widely cited 2022 study, this recent piece notes that inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds correlated with an 84% higher mortality risk over the following decade.
UpRight POV: A single-leg stand test going mainstream in a general health outlet is great coverage on the importance of balance—but a 10-second pass/fail test is a blunt instrument compared to continuous, accurate, quantified balance tracking.
FOR YOUR HEALTH: It’s All About Balance: Preventing Falls as We Age
Jefferson City News Tribune
A general-audience health column covers common fall contributors—foot pain, improper footwear, and home hazards like loose rugs or poor lighting—and what to do after a fall occurs.
UpRight POV: It’s good to see physicians like Dr. More covering the importance of balance in this way to a regional audience. Next step? Measuring your balance consistently over time!
Tai Chi for Beginners
Culver City Crossroads
Local event on a beginner Tai Chi class explicitly designed to promote balance and fall prevention.
UpRight POV: Highlighting this free, local Tai Chi event that is regularly hosted in Culver City because we love Tai Chi for maintaining balance and wholeheartedly support non-profit efforts like this one to make learning the art and practice of Tai Chi accessible to anyone.
Making Falls Prevention Programs Accessible to Adults with Low Vision
National Council on Aging (NCOA)
NCOA outlines practical strategies for including low-vision older adults in evidence-based falls prevention programs, noting vision loss affects over 25% of adults 71 and older.
UpRight POV: A good reminder that measurement tools and programs need to be accessible by design—vision loss shouldn’t be a barrier to tracking balance.
Parkour for Seniors? Classes Help Older Wisconsinites Build Strength, Community
Wisconsin Watch / Baldwin Bulletin
Feature on adapted parkour classes for older adults in Wisconsin, designed to build strength and community while reducing deadly falls.
UpRight POV: Wisconsin unfortunately boasts high rates of falls among adults, so we’re thrilled to see seniors learning parkour as a communal event.
Also in the News
A few adjacent stories from this week that are worth a glance.