50 Photos That Capture The Split Second Before Disaster Hits And They’re Hilarious

If you've never had a silly, clumsy accident, who are you even? Many of us drop things, spill things, trip and fall, or even walk into sliding doors now and again. We laugh - or cuss - off these minor disasters, and for the most part, they're nothing to be too concerned about.

But at what point should you worry about your clumsiness?

Let's start with the definition of clumsiness. According to Healthline.com, it is poor coordination, movement, or action. Research shows that as we age, we are likely to get more clumsy. This is because brain function plays a role in coordination. And when we get older, our brains become less efficient due to structural damage and decreased neurotransmitter levels.

"This forces us to rely more on cognitive processes that are supported by the prefrontal cortex, a brain region highly vulnerable to aging," explains Healthline.

If you're finding yourself tripping, falling, dropping things, or bumping into furniture more often than usual, aging might be at play. But your sudden clumsiness could be a result of something more serious...

It's not unusual to be clumsy when you’re distracted or unaware of your surroundings. "But often, sudden issues with coordination paired with another symptom can suggest a serious, underlying health condition," warns Healthline.

Among these health conditions is a stroke. This happens when a blood clot forms in the brain and decreases blood flow. Or when a weakened blood vessel bursts in your brain and decreases blood flow. Your brain is deprived of oxygen, and your brain cells begin to wither away.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 Americans suffer from a stroke every year. Some of them experience paralysis or muscle weakness, leading to poor coordination and stumbling. Aka clumsiness. But before you panic, experts say sudden clumsiness doesn’t always mean a stroke. There will most likely be other symptoms too.

These include slurred speech, pins and needles sensations in your arms or legs, muscle weakness or numbness, a headache and vertigo, which is a feeling that you’re moving or spinning when you’re not.

Another culprit for sudden clumsiness is seizures. "This is often the case with complex partial, myoclonic, and atonic seizures or drop attacks," explains the Healthline site. "Myoclonic and atonic seizures cause someone to suddenly fall as if they’re tripping. This symptom isn’t considered clumsiness."

When a person experiences a complex partial seizure, there will be a pattern of actions and symptoms. They'll typically stare blankly while in the middle of an activity or conversation. Then, suddenly, they’ll start doing something random, such as mumbling, fumbling, or picking at their clothing or objects.

Complex partial seizures may only last a few minutes, notes Healthline, and the person will have no memory of what happened. If or when they have a seizure again, they'll likely repeat the exact same actions.

Of course, being intoxicated can also lead to clumsiness. That's because, as many of us know, intoxication impairs brain function and can result in uncoordinated movements or difficulty maintaining your balance.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can also cause clumsiness due to disorientation, tremors, agitation, or seizures.

Could the cause of your clumsiness be a brain tumor? It's possible, say the experts. And that's because a malignant (cancerous) or benign brain tumor can affect balance and coordination. But rest assured that getting a cancerous brain tumor is rare. And you have less than a 1% chance of developing it in your lifetime.

Apart from clumsiness, cancerous and benign brain tumors can cause unexplained nausea and vomiting, vision problems, personality or behavior changes, hearing problems, seizures, weakness or numbness, and bad headaches.

Anxiety can also lead to clumsiness because it can cause your nervous system to function abnormally. For example, your hands might shake when you have anxiety, or you might see your surroundings differently, in which case, you’re more likely to bump into objects or people.

Similarly, if you don't get enough sleep, you might find yourself more clumsy than usual. "Exhaustion can affect balance, causing you to drop things. Or you may find yourself bumping into things," explains Healthline, adding that getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night allows your brain and body to rest.

There is a range of underlying conditions that can cause clumsiness. But often, your silly tripping, falling, dropping things, or stubbing your toe is just that: clumsiness. The only time to worry is when you have other symptoms, your clumsiness lasts for a long time, or negatively affects your daily life.

One of the best ways to avoid clumsiness is to slow down, be mindful, and pay attention to your surroundings. Another is to exercise regularly. “Movement in general strengthens gross motor skills and balance,” explains Lisa Hobson Stoner, a Life Time master trainer based in Minnesota.

You could also practice balancing by standing on one leg. "Unilateral (single-sided) exercises challenge your balance and help correct strength imbalances that may contribute to clumsiness," says Hobson Stoner.

Basically, stand on one leg for as long as you can - and keep a chair nearby in case you need to steady yourself. Do the same on the other leg. And aim to balance for longer periods each time you practice.

Finally, challenge your beliefs. Mind over matter. If you often tell yourself that you're "just" a clumsy person, it's unlikely you'll miraculously become more graceful.

“If we always think of ourselves this way, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” says Hobson Stoner. Instead, speak kindly and positively to yourself. And say something like, "I’m working on my coordination."