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If youβre one of those people who never seems to trip over your own two feet, bump into furniture or break your favorite drinking glass, consider yourself lucky. Many of us identify with being at least a little clumsy, and generally, itβs something to laugh about.
Sometimes, however, clumsiness can be a sign of a bigger issue than just needing a bandage or waiting for a bruise to heal. It can be indicative of a larger issue related to our brains.
βThere are a variety of medical problems that can lead to clumsiness, including general medical conditions, hormonal dysfunction, visual problems and neurological disorders,β said Dr. Alessandro Di Rocco, the director of neurology, Parkinsonβs and movement disorders at Northwell Health.
βAmong the more common neurological problems are βmini-strokes,β due to occlusion of small blood vessels in the brain, neurodegenerative brain diseases such as Parkinsonβs disease and Alzheimerβs disease, which develop frequently in older individuals, or other neurological disorders, including accumulation of fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus), inflammation and peripheral nerve disease (neuropathy),β Di Rocco added.
Before you panic and turn to Google for more information (please donβt), we consulted doctors who specialize in brain health to find out the specific clumsiness-related signs you may need to see a doctor about for further evaluation. Hereβs what they had to say:
1. Youβre having more frequent accidents or injuries.
Neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez said that, from a medical standpoint, itβs important to consider that a certain degree of clumsiness is typical.
βThe average person may have moments of clumsiness, which can include knocking over objects or spilling a drink, but itβs usually nothing to worry about,β Hafeez said, noting that sometimes clumsiness can be a side effect of anxiety.
However, a sign that your clumsiness isnβt normal is a sudden increase in accidents or injuries, she said. So if you notice youβre falling often or getting into minor accidents, it can be a good idea to see a doctor to get to the root of whatβs going on.
2. Functions you normally have no issue with become difficult.
When functions we normally have no problem executing become difficult or impaired, clumsiness may be a sign of a larger medical problem, Di Rocco said.
βFor instance, even an individual who has never been too dexterous with manual tasks may start dropping objects, having difficulty typing or walking, or start falling more,β he explained.
3. Your clumsiness feels new and jarring.
For a lot of us, a little bit of clumsiness is part of our daily lives. But it could be a sign that your clumsiness isnβt normal if you find yourself thinking, βWhy canβt I keep my balance?β or βWhy do I keep dropping my phone?β
βNormal clumsiness is something you have always had since childhood,β said Dr. Amparo Gutierrez, a neurologist with the Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute. βNew clumsiness that develops over hours or days is abnormal, and medical advice should be sought.β
Di Rocco also underscored this.
βChanges in dexterity or an awareness of becoming clumsy should prompt a medical evaluation, especially if the clumsiness is persistent and not occasional,β he said.
Increased clumsiness isnβt always serious, but you should get checked out to be sure.
While a sudden acceleration in clumsiness could be a sign of a serious health issue, there can also be other explanations with simpler fixes.
βAn increase in clumsiness could be attributed to deficiencies in vitamins or minerals like vitamin B12 or magnesium,β Hafeez said.
Itβs also possible that a new medication is causing clumsiness, in which case you can speak to your doctor about adjusting your dose or trying something else.
An increase in clumsiness can also be a normal part of the aging process, according to Di Rocco.
βWhat is normal function or clumsiness at age 30 is very different than at age 70,β he said.
For example, people tend to have more trouble with balance as they age and may fall more frequently, but that doesnβt necessarily mean thereβs anything serious going on with their brain.
With all that in mind, if youβre worried about an uptick in clumsiness, itβs always a good idea to speak with a health professional.
βIf you notice persistent clumsiness that interferes with your daily activities or seems to be worsening over time, itβs a good idea to see a doctor,β Hafeez said. βIf clumsiness is accompanied by other symptoms such as a severe headache, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, confusion, vision changes, dizziness or loss of balance, see a doctor immediately.β
Clumsiness is a normal part of being human. But if it starts to interfere with your daily life or you notice an abrupt change in your motor skills, be sure to speak with a medical provider as soon as possible.