A recent study has revealed that the ability to stand on one leg may be a better indicator of age-related physical decline compared to traditional measures like grip strength or walking speed. The study found that individuals who can maintain their balance longer on their non-dominant leg experience slower physical deterioration as they age.
The study was conducted on 40 individuals, both under and over the age of 65, at the Mayo Clinic. It focused on various tests to evaluate strength, balance, and walking patterns. While walking patterns remained relatively stable, balance ability showed a significant decline with age.
Results indicated that the ability to stand on one leg decreased by an average of 2.2 seconds per decade for the non-dominant leg and 1.7 seconds for the dominant leg. The study also observed increased body sway and reduced grip and knee strength as participants aged.
Researchers noted that physical decline occurred similarly between men and women, despite men exhibiting about 30% higher grip strength and 27% stronger knee strength. However, grip strength decreased by 3.7% per decade, and knee strength by 1.4%, regardless of gender, highlighting the equal impact of aging on both sexes.
This suggests that the one-leg stand test can serve as a useful tool to monitor physical health and aging progression.
