The inability of a middle-aged or elderly person to stand on one foot for ten seconds is associated with almost twice the risk of death from any cause within the next decade, according to a new Brazilian scientific study, the first to make this correlation.
The study shows that this simple and safe balance test could be included in the routine exams of the elderly. Unlike aerobic fitness and muscle strength and flexibility, balance tends to be fairly well maintained until the sixth decade of life, when it then begins to decline relatively quickly. Until now, balance tests are not often used in middle-aged people.
The researchers, led by Dr. Claudio Jill Araούjo of Clinimex Medicina do Exercicio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who published the study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from 1.702 people aged 51 to 75 years. who were asked to stand on one leg for ten seconds without any other support, with their hands on their sides and looking straight ahead. Up to three attempts were allowed on each leg.
Eventually, one in five participants (348 people or 20,5%) failed the test. The older one was, the greater the chance of failure (about twice as much for every five years after age 50). Unable to stand on one leg for ten seconds were 5% of people aged 51-55, 8% in the 56-60 age group, 18% in the 61-65 age group, 37% in the 66-70 age group and more than half (54%) at 71-75 years old.
During a seven-year follow-up period, 123 people died (7%): 32% from cancer, 30% from cardiovascular causes, 9% from respiratory disease and 7% from complications Covid-19. The death rate was significantly higher (17,5%) among those who had been "cut" in the balance test than those who had "passed" (4,5%).
In general, those who did not pass the test had worse health, as they were obese, had heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes compared to those who passed the test. Taking into account other factors (age, sex, underlying diseases, etc.), it was estimated that imbalance in one leg was associated with an 84% increased risk of death from any cause within the next ten years.
Source: ΑΠΕ- ΜΠΕ