Find Out How Long You May Live With 10-Second Balance Test

What if you could know the prediction of your life, how long you may live? This sounds unreal but scientists have found a way to predict how long a person may live through a 10-second balance test. If you can stand and balance your body on one foot for a brief 10-second time period, it can predict longevity of your life.

Balance test for prediction of life

According to a report published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers have found that older adults can find out how long they will live by taking a simple 10-second balance test. If they can stand on one foot for 10 seconds, they are likely to live longer. Those who fail the test are two times more at risk of dying in the next 10 years, as per the report.

How balance can predict life expectancy?

While muscle strength, flexibility and aerobic fitness are time-bound, balance is a long-term factor. The ability to balance can be preserved for 50+ years and it precipitously reduces after that. If you are able to balance your body for more than 10 seconds, you are highly likely to live longer. On the other hand, people with poor balance are at risk of early death. 

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Researchers have found a significant link between body balance and frailty(physiological decline or age-related wear and tear). If you have good musculoskeletal fitness, you are less prone to age-related complications including fractures. So, if you are able to stand on one foot for at least 10 seconds, your musculoskeletal fitness is considerably good and you have many years to live.

Another similar study done in 2016 establishes a strong link between longevity and movement ability. In this, a person has to sit on the floor for 5 minutes and then stand up without using knees and/or hands. This test could predict whether they will live or die over the next six years. 

Body balance predict longevity

For this research, the team took 1,700 fit participants aged between 51-75 years. On the first day, they got a checkup done measuring waist size, weight and body fat. After that, the participants were asked to give a balance test by standing on one leg for 10 seconds without any support. They were asked to stand on one leg while placing the other leg on the thigh of the weight bearing leg. Also, arms to be straight and upwards. 

Also Read: 7 Basic Exercises To Improve Balance And Stability In Adults

Result- 1 in 5 failed this test.

It was found balance wanes with age. Those who failed this balance test were either too old or physically weak or ailing with a health condition. The researchers recorded the results according to factors like age, BMI, cholesterol, diabetes and high BP. It was then found that people who failed this balance test were nearly two times more likely to diet in the next 10 years.

Why this test can be beneficial?

If you know that your balance is deteriorating, you can always work upon it to improve. This can not only strengthen your musculoskeletal fitness but also adds years to your life.

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