In the world, thelife expectancy is increasing due to various factors such as improvements in health care and standards of living. In France, it stands at 85.7 years for women and 80 years for men, according to the latest figures from INSEE. But “aging is often associated with disability and multiple health problems”, present researchers from the Mayo Clinic, in the United States.
The latter specify that this leads to a decline in mental and physical abilities. Among the telltale signs of aging, we can note a change in gait or muscle loss, which in more serious cases is known as sarcopenia.
As the researchers point out, “good balance, good muscular strength and efficient gait contribute to the independence and well-being of older people”. Indeed, “Accidental falls are the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and over.”
It is therefore essential to spot the first signs for appropriate treatment. Also, they found that “the ability of a person to stand on one leg is a more telling indicator of aging than changes in strength or gait”. Their results are published in the revue Plos One.
Testing your balance on one leg would help measure aging
To arrive at these results, the researchers based themselves on a panel of 40 people aged over 50. These latter “were subjected to walking, balance, grip strength and knee strength tests”explain the researchers.
Regarding the balance tests, the participants had to successively keep their balance by holding “on both feet with eyes open, on both feet with eyes closed, on non-dominant leg with eyes open, and on dominant leg with eyes open”. The tests lasted 30 seconds each. The researchers found that “the ability to stand on one leg, particularly the non-dominant leg, showed the greatest rate of decline with age.”
Researchers recommend practicing standing on one leg to work on balance
In a press release, Kenton Kaufman, lead author of the study and director of the Movement Analysis Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic explains that “balance is an important measure because, in addition to muscular strength, it requires the intervention of vision, the vestibular system and somatosensory systems”.
It should be noted that the systems somatosensoriels allow us to perceive and process various information allowing us to maintain balance. The specialist emphasizes that “If you have poor balance, you are likely to fall whether you are moving or not. Falls constitute a serious health risk with serious consequences.”
So, what can you do to work on your balance? Dr. Kaufman advises standing on one leg for 30 seconds. “By standing on one leg, you can practice coordinating your muscular and vestibular responses to maintain good balance. If you can stand on one leg for 30 seconds, you’re doing well.”he specifies in the press release.
Source :
- Age-related changes in gait, balance, and strength parameters: A cross-sectional study – Plos One – 23/10/2024
- Balance may provide a better measure of aging than strength or gait – Mayo Clinic – 23/10/2024
