A recent study reveals that middle-aged and elderly individuals who cannot 'stand on one leg for more than 10 seconds' face a significantly higher risk of death in the next 10 years. But why is the ability to stand on one leg associated with mortality? Here's the answer:
A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine investigated the connection between the ability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older adults.
Between 2008 and 2020, a total of 1,702 volunteers (68% male) aged 51 to 75 participated in the study. It found that 20.4% of people were unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds, and as the volunteers' age increased, their ability to stand decreased.
During the 7-year follow-up period, 7.2% of the volunteers passed away. The leading causes of death included cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, and complications from the novel coronavirus. Among them, 4.6% could stand on one leg for more than 10 seconds, while 17.5% could not.
People who couldn't stand on one leg for more than 10 seconds showed significant differences in age, waist-to-height ratio, and BMI compared to those who passed the test.
Additionally, they had poorer health conditions, often suffering from hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
After analyzing factors such as age, gender, and underlying health conditions, the study found that among those who couldn't stand on one leg for 10 seconds, about 84% were at a higher risk of death from all causes. This is nearly double the risk faced by individuals who could pass the test.
The increased risk of death is primarily linked to poor physical fitness and muscle strength.
Dr Claudio Gil Araujo, lead author of the paper, states: “The bottom line is poor physical fitness. In addition, of course, it is understood that poor balance is associated with falls. Aged people falling are at very high [risk] of major fractures and other related complications. This may also play a role in this higher mortality,"
Dr. Claudio Gil Araujo suggests that poor nonaerobic fitness is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, a lower quality of life, reduced physical activity, and so on.
As we age, our sense of balance decreases. Maintaining balance involves various factors, including vision, the semicircular canals of the ears (organs responsible for balance), and proprioception. It is well-established that visual impairment in the elderly can affect their ability to walk.
Furthermore, the organs responsible for balance are also impacted by aging, and cognitive abilities not only decline with age but are also associated with diabetes.
In diabetic patients, poor blood sugar control can damage sensory nerves, resulting in insensitivity in peripheral limbs and impaired balance.
If you want to practice balance and improve muscle strength, you first need to get into the habit of exercising and eating healthy. In this case, deadlift and squat exercises are very useful. These exercises focus on the lower body but can also affect muscles throughout the body, making them very effective at strengthening muscles.
