By Sarah M. | Updated: November 7, 2025
It’s not always muscle weakness. Many experts now point to a common type of everyday shoe that quietly blocks the brain’s connection to the ground — and slowly erodes balance over time.
Falls are now the leading cause of injury-related death for adults over 65. According to the CDC, one in four older adults falls every year, and the numbers keep rising. Slippery floors at home and uneven sidewalks outside turn everyday walks into a serious risk for seniors.
For someone in their 70s or 80s, a fall is rarely “just a fall.” Hip fractures and other serious injuries often mean they never fully return to their old level of independence. Many seniors become so afraid of falling again that they go out less and less, which quickly harms both their mobility and their overall health.
For years we believed that falls among older adults were simply the result of muscle weakness and aging. Recent research, however, points to a deeper structural issue: loss of proprioception (the body’s sense of position in space) caused by weakened feet and ankles. After decades in thick, rigid, box-shaped shoes, the small stabilizing muscles in the feet are no longer asked to work — and they gradually switch off. When the foot can’t clearly “feel” the ground and the ankle muscles are too weak to correct a slip, the brain can’t trigger the balance reflex in time.
Recognizing this critical gap, a team of footwear designers set out to help seniors by restoring the foot’s natural function instead of adding more padding. They developed Be BodyWise, a lightweight boot built with a ground-feedback sole that lets the foot flex, grip, and communicate with the brain again. Unlike traditional heavy winter boots, this design keeps a flat, flexible base and a roomy toe box for balance, while still providing waterproof protection and insulation in cold weather. It is made specifically for aging feet that need both warmth and stability.
Since launching, the response has been nothing short of a movement. Customer surveys report that over 100,000 seniors have tried Be BodyWise boots, with 94% saying they feel a clear boost in stability and confidence while walking. Again and again, they describe the same shift: once the heavy, clunky soles are gone and the feet are allowed to move naturally, they feel more secure on their feet and start reclaiming their independence — one steady step at a time.