Your Balance 'Systems' Become Less Effective With Age. Here's How To Stay Steady, According To Experts.

It might not look like much, but this foam balance pad creates a plush and uneven surface, essential for restoring your mind-body connection, whether you stand on it unilaterally or while kneeling. “A foam balance pad is a great piece of equipment that challenges proprioception, which is the body’s ability to sense where it is in space,” said Kelly. “It makes the ankles, hips and core work harder to maintain stability.”

To use it, Diamos recommends placing it under the knees for kneeling or quadruped activities, which help solidify core, hip and shoulder stability. “Those are all building blocks that contribute to balance when we eventually get upright and moving,” she said.

We chose this highly-rated Prosource Fit balance pad that’s popular with HuffPost readers.

Promising review: “Worked for me. Highly recommended by professional physical therapy and medical team. Post surgery and after an 18-month illness that left me nearly bed-ridden, atrophy in one leg set in requiring extensive rehab and physical therapy. This mat helps with balance and it does a superb job in retraining the brain and muscles in learning to walk and balance again. It doesn't look like it would, but because it is soft and spongy, our body starts tipping over in one direction or another. By looking straight ahead and stepping onto this mat, our brains tell our feet calves, thighs, hips, and especially our lower backs to work and maintain balance.” — raj-seattle

You know and love your color-coded resistance bands for muscular strength, but those muscles they strengthen, such as glutes, hip stabilizers and legs, “are critical for maintaining and recovering balance,” according to Kelly.

Diamos, who did not endorse a specific brand of resistance band, shares numerous ways to incorporate resistance bands into a balance-strengthening routine, such as resisting movements at the toes or ankles, placing a loop around the knees to challenge the hips or stand inside a larger anchored loop and walk or step in different directions against its resistance. “That versatility is one reason I use bands so often,” she said.

To engage your upper body and challenge balance simultaneously, Diamos also recommends using your arms to pull down against a band while marching “to engage the trunk while the legs have to maintain balance and control underneath you.”

This 5-pack of bands that we chose is popular with physical therapists, HuffPost readers and Amazon shoppers alike.

Promising review: “This pack of bands are perfect for bringing to the gym or using at home. I really like the little carrying case it came with, I’ll definitely be using that when I travel this summer. There’s 5 different levels so you can start out slow. I generally use them on rest days to stretch and work on balance, but you could make a great workout out of these! They even provide a little tutorial guide on some basic exercises. Overall, great value for the price.” — Emily Tucker

If you’ve frequently felt shaky climbing stairs or stepping off a curb, take Kelly’s suggestion and invest in an aerobic step — stat. “An aerobic step or step platform is a functional balance tool because of the movements that step ups require of us,” she said. “Step ups and controlled step downs work on strength, coordination, weight shifting and single leg control.”

Based on this suggestion, we found this popular option on Amazon.

In my work as a certified personal trainer with a specialization in orthopedic exercise and senior fitness, I’ve had clients perform three sets of eight step ups on each leg using this exact step, either holding onto a railing or using body weight. Isolating this single-leg action helps users train their muscles and nervous system to work together to safely mount and dismount steps or navigate changes in terrain and elevation in real-world situations.

Promising review: “Very good step platform for using to gain balance. Two different seats for height, making it adjustable as you increase your balance. As a physical therapy tool, it works very well. It’s stabile, comfortable to use, and the price was great.” — Ozzie’s Kitchen

You’ll feel like a superhero mastering the BOSU balance trainer, which stands for "both sides utilized," a tool Diamos appreciates for its ability to strengthen your balance in two ways.

First, place it dome side up, then step onto it, pushing off of the dome or lunging onto it from different directions and positions. “This lets you work on weight shifting and stability while moving on and off an unstable surface,” she said.

Next, she recommends flipping it over dome side down and standing on its flat platform (this option is more advanced). This way, she says the entire surface moves underneath you like a balance board, allowing you to practice standing balance, squats and other two-legged or single-leg activities, depending on your ability and comfort level.

“I especially like that it allows us to work on balance while moving because real-life balance is rarely about standing perfectly still,” Diamos said. “We need to shift our weight, step, change direction and react to what is happening around us.”

Promising review: “I absolutely love this BOSU balance trainer! As an athlete, I find it incredibly useful for balance, stability, core strength, and a variety of exercises. It’s well made, sturdy, and there are so many different ways to incorporate it into a workout. I’ve really enjoyed training with it and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to add balance and stability work to their routine. Great piece of equipment!” — Alena

To channel your schoolyard days of yore — i.e.: challenge your balance and agility with a sense of playfulness — don’t overlook hurdles. “Small hurdles are some of my favorite balance tools because they give you an actual target to move around or step over,” according to Diamos. She notes that hurdles often come in different heights, allowing you to gradually amend how you’ll need to lift your foot. This set that we chose (based on popularity with Amazon shoppers) allows you to adjust your step height anywhere from six to 12 inches.

To use them, simply step forward, sideways or come toward the hurdles at different angles, “which challenges balance while also working on foot clearance, weight shifting and coordination,” Diamos said. “Those skills carry over well to everyday situations like stepping over a curb, navigating an obstacle or quickly changing direction.”

Promising review: “Used these hurdles working with seniors to train their balance. Worked well because you could adjust height. Also, they didn't need to worry about stepping on it as it would just collapse rather than causing them to trip or be scared of breaking the product.” — JT

Think of this plush, grippy and balance-challenging tool as another two-for-one. By standing on it, you'll force your body to "continuously make small adjustments," according to Kelly. "These are great for a progression once someone has developed basic balance control."

By placing the balance disc on a chair, you'll engage your core to help keep your spine aligned and upper body upright — a productive way to challenge your balance and boost deep core strength while at work or watching TV.

Promising review: "The Gaiam Balance Disc Wobble Cushion is a versatile tool that adds subtle movement and core engagement whether you're sitting at a desk or using it for exercise. It’s firm yet flexible, helping improve posture and reduce stiffness during long periods of sitting. Great for adults looking to activate their core while working, and also useful as a sensory seat for kids who benefit from gentle motion.

The texture provides decent grip, and it’s easy to inflate to your preferred firmness. While it may take a few days to get used to the wobble, it’s a solid addition to any home office or classroom setup. Just be sure your chair is stable, as this cushion does encourage movement." — Pinkie 500