I was standing in the mall the other day when I noticed how hard it was to get my mom onto the escalator. She froze. One foot hovered in the air, and I could see the hesitation in her eyes. Something as simple as stepping onto a moving platform was suddenly a big risk.
If you’ve never experienced a fear of falling, it’s easy to overlook. But when your balance is unsteady and your muscles aren’t strong, the fear is real. And for so many women—especially our Asian mothers who were raised to believe exercise wasn’t “for women”—this is their daily reality.
We can’t just watch and feel sad. We have to do something.
The Reality We’re Facing
- Falls are the leading cause of injury-related ER visits and hip fractures in older adults, with 300,000 hip fractures every year in the U.S. (Mayo Clinic Health System).
- After 50, 1 in 2 women will break a bone due to osteoporosis-related fragility fractures (Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation).
- Globally, 1 in 3 women over 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture (International Osteoporosis Foundation).
- From ages 65 to 80+, fall rates and fracture risks soar (menopause.org.au).
- In many parts of Asia, the prevalence is even more alarming: in mainland China, up to 50% of women over 50have osteoporosis; in Japan, 35% of women aged 50–79 have spinal osteoporosis, and 9.5% have it at the hip. Across the Asia-Pacific region, 10–30% of women over 40 are affected (International Osteoporosis Foundation; PMC).
These aren’t just numbers—they’re warnings. And for those of us with traditional mothers—mothers who gave up careers, spent their lives caring for others, and never put themselves first—it’s our job to help them move, get strong, and age well.
Why We Must Act Now
- Muscle is protection – Resistance and weight-bearing training preserve bone density and stability when estrogen drops.
- Movement prevents falls – Pilates, walking, and strength training improve balance, coordination, and reaction time.
- Strength smashes stereotypes – The old idea that strength training makes women “less feminine” is outdated. Strength is independence.
- We choose how we age – We can’t stop time, but we can change how we respond to it.
How to Help Your Mother Move
- Start small – Chair stands, short walks, gentle stretching.
- Do it together – Make it a shared activity, not a chore.
- Support her body – Encourage calcium, vitamin D, and bone health checkups.
- Lead with patience and love – Change takes time.
Ladies, this is our call. Let’s help our mothers reclaim strength, balance, and joy in movement. Something is always better than nothing.
Start today—so one day, she can step onto that escalator with confidence, dance at her grandchild’s wedding, or walk through the market without fear.
We owe it to them. We owe it to ourselves. Let’s get our mothers moving.