A highly-trained cardiologist has shared a secret to predicting longevity that doesn’t involve prescriptions or medical devices. It’s a simple physical assessment you can do at home: the one-legged stand. This test of static balance, according to recent research, is a remarkably accurate indicator of your chances for a long and healthy life.
The foundation for this claim is a decade-long study from 2022 that observed nearly two thousand adults in their later years. The research aimed to find simple, functional markers for health. It found a goldmine in the unipedal stance test, discovering a powerful link between balance and all-cause mortality.
The study’s results were eye-opening. Participants aged 50-75 who could maintain their balance on one leg for just 10 seconds were found to have a 90% chance of being alive and well seven years later. This single piece of data provided a potent forecast of their future health, independent of other common risk factors.
The medical expert explained that this test is so effective because balance isn’t a single skill but a symphony of bodily functions. It requires seamless integration of your nervous system, vision, inner ear balance, and muscle response. A failure in this test suggests a potential problem in one of these critical areas, prompting a need for a health re-evaluation.
So, how do you fare? Try standing on one leg with your eyes open. If 10 seconds feels like an eternity, consider it a valuable piece of feedback from your body. The cardiologist suggests that instead of being discouraged, one should take up activities like Tai Chi or yoga to actively improve this vital health metric and invest in a longer, more stable future.