A new study has suggested that a simple test could reveal how well your body is ageing. Although it is not possible to predict our lifespan or appearance in old age, there are indicators of potential health as we age.
Factors such as maintaining regular exercise and eating healthily can all contribute to a healthier future. However, scientists now suggest that simply standing on one leg could indicate our fitness level in old age.
The research, published in PLOS ONE, found that the ability to balance on one leg could be the most reliable indicator of age-related decline. It even outperformed traditional measures such as grip strength, walking speed, or two-legged balance tests.
Scientists believe this could be a valuable tool for healthcare providers and individuals monitoring their ageing process. As part of the study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic and other institutions conducted movement analysis on 40 healthy adults, equally divided between those under and over the age of 65.
They underwent various tests measuring their strength, balance, and walking patterns to understand how these abilities change with age. While walking patterns remained relatively stable across age groups, other measures showed significant age-related declines, according to Study Finds.
The research team discovered that as people age, their ability to balance on one leg for an extended period decreases, with a decline of about 2.2 seconds per decade for the non-dominant leg and 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. The study’s authors highlighted the importance of this finding, stating: “This study underscores the significance of the unipedal balance test in monitoring elderly subjects in the community, regardless of sex. The duration an individual, whether male or female, can maintain balance on one leg emerges as the most reliable determinant of ageing, surpassing strength, gait, and other balance parameters.”
They pointed out the convenience of this balance test, as it requires no special equipment or medical expertise and can be easily performed at home by simply timing how long you can stay balanced on one leg while keeping your eyes open.
Additionally, the study revealed that balance becomes less stable with age. While all participants were able to stand on two legs for the required 30-second duration, older adults exhibited more swaying, particularly when their eyes were closed, indicating the vital role of vision in maintaining balance as we get older.
The study also noted that both men and women showed similar rates of balance decline as they aged.