Unless you are a flamingo, chances are you don’t spend much time standing around on one leg. Yet, according to new research, your ability to do so for an extended period can potentially reveal how healthy you are. The study examined a group of people 50 years and older to assess their ability to stand on one leg for an extended period. Did the study reveal anything significant, or is standing on one leg simply “for the birds”? Read more to find out how your ability to stand on one leg for an extended time reveals your health state.
The Study On The One-Legged Pose Test
The study involved 40 healthy participants who were all free from any neuromuscular disorders. According to the study, a significant decline in balance can be observed as people age. This ability outpaced the rate of deterioration of both muscle strength and gait. This is because multiple bodily systems have to work in perfect unison for us to have good balance. Without proper balance, we would constantly be putting ourselves in danger, increasing our risk of falling and hurting ourselves.
The study revealed that our ability to stand on one leg decreases by 1.7 seconds every 10 years on the dominant leg. It also showed that our ability to stand on one leg decreases by 2.2 seconds every 10 years on the non-dominant leg. The data showed this pattern was consistent regardless of gender and body size variations. The main risk in losing balance over time is an increase in injuries. The study showed that those individuals who couldn’t maintain a one-legged position for more than five seconds were most at risk of falling more often.
This is especially significant as individuals grow older and their ability to recover also weakens. However, injuries incurred from falling are not the only risks. A study in 2022 found that people who were unable to stand for ten seconds or more had an 84% higher chance of dying from any cause. So, how long can you stand on one leg? Have you tried to time yourself yet? Next, let’s find out how long you should be able to hold this pose.
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How Long Can You Stand On One Leg?
Researchers say that as a general guideline, people younger than 70 years of age should aim to balance for a minimum of 30 seconds. Those individuals within the 70 to 80 age bracket should aim for around 20 seconds. For those older than 80, it is considered ideal if they can stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds. Research has shown that your ability to balance also provides insight into your overall physical and cognitive health. A study held in the UK showed that people in the 51 to 75 age group who were not able to stand for 10 seconds or longer had a higher risk of underlying issues.
These issues included diabetes, high blodd pressure, and cardiovascular disease. It was also shown that people who struggle with this test are also more likely to suffer from micro-strokes, which can eventually lead to cognitive impairment. Your risk of fracture and hospitalization are also higher if your balance is compromised. These risks, along with potential mobility issues, means that much of their independence is lost in their later years. This is why educating people about balance exercises and training is so important.
A big benefit of this test is that it doesn’t require any expensive and inconvenient visits to the doctor. It can be performed at home without any additional equipment, except maybe a stopwatch function on your phone. If you perform the test and find that you can’t stand for very long, consider it a sign that you should see your doctor. It could be an early indication of an underlying condition that can potentially be addressed with treatment. It’s never too late (or too early) to start engaging in exercises that improve your balance.
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