Published Nov 03, 2023 | 8:30 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 03, 2023 | 8:30 AM
Researchers believe the One Leg Standing test should be part of regular health checks. (Wikimedia Commons)
Have you ever tried standing on one leg to see how good your balance is? If you are over 50 years of age and struggling to maintain balance even for 10 seconds, then it’s time to take this simple One Leg Standing (OLS) test.
Your ability (or inability) to stand on one leg can give more insight into your health than you would expect. An interesting study has shown that this straightforward balance test could be a predictor of overall health outcomes.
It’s no secret that as we age, our balance tends to wane, heightening the risk of falls and associated complications.
Poor balance can be an indicator of possible health conditions. (Wikimedia Commons)
This study — titled Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals — by Brazilian researchers, published in reputed journal BMJ, aimed to see if there was a deeper connection between diminishing balance, particularly the capacity to hold a one-legged stance for 10 seconds, and the broader implications it might have on a person’s longevity.
The researchers, between 2008 and 2020, monitored 1,702 individuals aged between 51 to 75 years. They analysed various health metrics, like weight and past illnesses, and, most importantly, observed their performance on the 10-second One Leg Standing (OLS) test.
As part of this test, a person stands on one leg, eyes open, looking straight ahead. The other leg is kept behind, with hands by the side. If the person can maintain this position for over 10 seconds, they’ve passed the test. It’s as straightforward as that.
However, the implications of failing this test, as per the recent Brazilian study, can be far-reaching.
Using statistical models, the researchers tracked survival rates based on whether participants could complete the OLS test successfully.
A significant 20.4 percent of the 1,702 participants couldn’t maintain the one-legged stance for the full 10 seconds.
Over a typical follow-up period of 7 years, the death rate in this group was startlingly higher — 17.5 percent — compared to 4.6 percent in those who passed the test.
Once the data was adjusted to consider factors like age, gender, and body weight, the results were still clear: those who couldn’t complete the test faced a higher risk of death.
The balance test’s inclusion in the study’s assessment models enhanced the accuracy of mortality predictions.
Taking to X and speaking about the OLS test, Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist from Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, said, “We rely on multiple investigations such as blood tests and scans to detect diseases and predict the risk of diseases or death. However, clinical examination can often give valuable clues about a person’s health.”
Ability to stand on one leg for > 10 seconds is associated with longer survival
We rely on multiple investigations such as blood tests and scans to detect diseases and predict about risk of diseases or death. However, clinical examination can often give valuable clues about a… pic.twitter.com/pDKi0YwHu5
— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) October 30, 2023
Explaining further that the ability to stand on one leg varies among people and generally declines with age, Dr Sudhir said that people in their 50s should be able to stand for at least 40 seconds, people in their 60s should be able to stand for at least 20 seconds, and people in 70s should be able to stand for at least 10 seconds.
However, he said that the OLS test is a simple to perform and should be included as part of routine clinical examination in middle-aged and older age adults.
The study, too, noted that basic tests, like the 10-second OLS, might have a place in regular health check-ups, especially for older adults. “Not only does it provide insights into one’s risk of falls, but it might also be a broader indicator of overall health and longevity,” the authors noted.
The authors also noted some limitations in the study, such as not considering factors like recent falls or physical activity levels. However, the correlation between balance and overall health is evident, the authors in the study said.
One leg standing test. (Wikimedia Commons)
However, stressing about the limitations and the fact that the study “showed only an association and does not prove cause and effect”, Dr Sudhir iterated that failing to stand on one leg does not indicate a specific disease.
In his tweet, he said, “Causes can be related to orthopaedic (knee arthritis), neurological (weakness or numbness of feet), poor balance, impaired cognition, obesity, heart diseases, etc.”
He added, “The incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and heart diseases were also higher among those who failed the OLS test, in the study, as compared to those who passed it.”
In 2010, the BMJ had highlighted a series of studies that drew connections between ordinary day-to-day tasks and potential longevity.
An analysis of 14 studies focusing on grip strength had revealed that individuals with the weakest grip had a mortality rate 1.67 times higher than their stronger counterparts.
Also, another one on examining walking speed across five studies showed that those who walked at the slowest pace had a mortality rate nearly three times (2.87 to be exact) than of the fastest walkers.
Similarly, five other studies centred on the time taken by individuals to rise from a chair showed that those who took the longest had almost double the mortality rate compared to the quickest individuals.
Hence, researchers say that such everyday tasks might mirror overall health conditions. So, it might be better to pinpoint and diagnose heath issues that might adversely affect balance and rectify them.
Dr Sudhir further explained that the inability to stand with your eyes closed even on both legs — often losing balance — suggests a disease of the sensory nerve fibres in the soles of the feet or sensory tracts (posterior columns) of the spinal cord.
“The patient is asked to stand on both feet with their eyes closed. If the person starts swaying or falls, it is considered abnormal,” he said.
He attributed the reason to deficiency of vitamins.
“The commonest causes are Vitamin B12 deficiency and diabetic neuropathy (there are several other causes too, which can be identified by the doctor after examination and investigations). This clinical test is called as Romberg sign,” he explained.
So, go ahead and try standing on one leg. If you find this simple task hard, it is best to consult with your physician and identify any possible health concerns.
