When Lucy fell out of her tree and went ‘splat’
Pre-history’s
most famous fall
The sun was breaking over the African horizon 3.2 million years ago when a hominin, later named Lucy, arose from the safety of her perch in the crotch of a large tree. She felt safe in the tree at night, but her kind had reached a stage in evolution when walking on the ground was just as comfortable.
Lucy’s morning routine of climbing down to the ground and beginning her day of foraging was her last. At some point in the descent, she lost her balance and fell feet-first onto the hard ground, then pitched forward onto her face, where she died from massive injuries.
Findings from a new study of Lucy’s bones challenge the theory that her numerous fractures occurred post-mortem. Not all paleoanthropologists agree with researcher John Kappelman of the University of Texas in Austin. However, he believes recent scans of Lucy’s bones reveal that she was still conscious when she hit the ground.
Likewise, many of Lucy’s injuries are consistent with compression and greenstick fractures, further indicating a fall. Chimpanzees build their nests from 40 to 50 feet above the ground, high enough that a fall could be fatal.
It is likely that early humans like Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis, took a cue from their primate cousins and found shelter in trees. If so, falls from trees may not be unusual.
The takeaway from this discussion of Lucy is that humans, as with most mammals and some fish, turtles and reptiles, have similar vestibular systems. The mechanism of equilibrium evolved over many millions of years, and without that strange little organ in the inner ear, we would be crawling around on the ground.
Toddle: A verb meaning to “walk with short, unsteady steps.”
We rack up most of our falls as toddlers, with “toddle” being the operative word at this age. These little humans are always on the verge of falling with every step.
When we watch a baby toddling across the floor, we observe first-hand the development of its ability to maintain balance and spatial orientation.
Our vestibular system begins in the womb. This enables the unborn infant to orient its head toward the birth canal.
Although a baby’s bones are more forgiving than an adult’s and even more so than an older person’s, fractures are common in toddlers, which is an excellent reason to create the safest environment possible.
The vestibular pathways
In part one of this series on equilibrium, we discussed the anatomy of the vestibular organs in the inner ear. We now understand that special fluid-filled chambers regulate our sense of spatial orientation of the head and body, including a sense of motion.
Information from the inner ear is sent to the brain, and, working in unison with our muscular system, we feel a sense of balance. Our muscles respond to correct any loss of equilibrium. For balance, we need near-spontaneous cooperation between three physiological systems: the brain, muscles and inner ear.
Use it or Lose it
Many Americans participate in sports and outdoor activities in their younger years. Some curtail these physical activities by mid-life, while others continue them into old age. Upon retirement age, many become sedentary, which is the death knell for their muscles and, therefore, their equilibrium.
Remember that muscles are a necessity to correct an unbalanced moment. If you allow them to atrophy, you are committing yourself to a considerable risk of falls that you may never recover from.
A paper released by the Cleveland Clinic on January 21, 2022, addressed the issue of muscle atrophy this way, “Disuse (physiologic) atrophy is caused by not using your muscles enough. If you stop using your muscles, your body won’t waste the energy it needs to take care of them. Instead, your body will start to break your muscles down, which causes them to decrease in size and strength.”
There are many options for maintaining muscles and balance. Yoga is an excellent exercise for developing and maintaining strength and balance; many yoga positions require good balance.
Balance exercises are fun and can be done in a group or at home. You will notice a much greater body awareness once you begin working out for strength and equilibrium. You will see, feel, and notice positive results quickly.
Other effective balance exercises include merely walking. Walking requires maintaining your center of gravity while staying upright, so you not only benefit from better balance but also burn calories.
Walking is an activity you can do from portal to portal; you can walk from home if you wish. Likewise, we are blessed here in Pocahontas County with hundreds of miles of trails, including the Greenbrier River Trail. There is no good excuse for not walking if you are able.
Heel-to-toe walking maximizes this exercise and is a bit harder than it looks. I prefer to lay a two-by-four down in the yard and walk it back and forth, pretending to be Karl Wallenda, the famous high-wire artist. Make sure the ground is clear of anything you might fall on.
Another easy balance exercise you can fit in many times daily is standing on one foot, alternating between the feet every 30 seconds. A friend in Michigan told me she stands on one foot every time she uses the microwave, timer included.
My brother, who lives in the Philippines, swears by barefoot beach walking, saying it gives you the biggest bang for your buck. From a physical standpoint, walking barefoot on sand would improve your equilibrium and strengthen the support muscles in your feet and ankles.
Besides, we Mountaineers could benefit from a dose of barefoot beach strolling at this time of year when our walking experiences are often on snow and ice; warm sand between the toes sounds delightful at 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
Climbing stairs is also an excellent way to build balance and strength, with an added emphasis on strengthening the gluteus maximus and quadriceps.
Author Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow and writer, recently published The Blue Zones, a book about specific locations worldwide with exceptionally high rates of centenarians, people living beyond 100 years.
Buettner discusses the practices and lifestyles these unique locations share in his book. One item mentioned many times is climbing stairs, which is often an imposition of the local topography; however, the results are salubrious for us seniors.
Another option for improving muscle tone, balance and cardio strength is the stability, or exercise, ball. The ball is a great way to improve overall balance and support muscle strength, but it takes some getting used to.
Rolling backward onto the floor is very easy, so if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia, you should forego this balance exercise. For those with normal bone density achieving stability on the ball soon becomes second nature.
Discipline vs. Habit
New Year’s resolutions are a good gauge of our tenacity for regular exercise. Forbes Health’s New Year’s Resolution survey for 2023 stated that only half of the respondents were still going to the gym three months after joining.
We often equate discipline with habits, but they are not necessarily the same thing. People who know that I work out regularly and have done so for over a half-century will often remark that I have “discipline.”
In truth, I could be more disciplined. The proof of my statement can be found in a bag of Lay’s potato chips, preferably classic or kettle-cooked. I do not buy potato chips very often because I will eat the whole bag in one sitting.
Another reason I don’t buy the large tubs of ice cream is my lack of discipline; I go for the pint-size containers. I have formed habits over many decades, some bad, some good. So far, the latter outweighs the former.
Psychologist Wendy Woods authored Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Changes that Will Stick. She suggests that significant numbers of Americans believe that the way to change behavior is solely through discipline or self-control and that willpower is the key to making changes that last.
In an interview on Hidden Brain, a popular science podcast, Woods said, “When surveys are done of Americans and their beliefs about how to change behavior, three-quarters of Americans think it’s a problem with self-control, that we just don’t have enough.”
Woods believes that anyone can build good habits and kick the bad ones to the curb. She maintains that you must understand the psychology of your habits and routines. Only then can you dismantle bad habits and fully embrace good ones.
My experience has been that when you develop good habits, like walking daily, your brain will reward you with feel-good endorphins. Conversely, when you slack off on good habits, you may feel depressed and even a little guilty.
Until the next episode of For Your Consideration, consider adding balance exercises to your daily routines, and you’ll keep your sunny side up well into old age.
Caution: Balance exercises pose the risk of falling and potential injuries. Please consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine.
Ken Springer
ken1949bongo@gmail.com
