How long can you stand on one leg?

[sherlock]

Dr Michael Mosley suggests testing your balance on one leg as an indicator of general health.

Good results are said to be:

Under 40: 45 seconds with eyes open, 15 seconds with eyes closed.
Aged 40-49: 42 seconds open, 13 seconds closed.
Aged 50-59: 41 seconds open, 8 seconds closed.
Aged 60-69: 32 seconds open, 4 seconds closed.
Aged 70-79: 22 seconds open, 3 seconds closed.

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Test yourself by putting hands on hips and raising one foot, test with eyes open and then eyes closed.

A few months ago I could manage about a minute eyes open, 12 seconds eyes closed, which was ok for my age (50s).

Been doing daily yoga for some months and tested again today. 45 seconds eyes closed, did 2 minutes eyes open before getting bored. Shows the benefits of yoga!

How about you?

 

[borolad259]

Not sure, but I do balance exercises like this a lot when starting to coach new athletes.... it's a good measure of how good they'll be.
One of the exercises is to do high knees jog for 3 steps then freze for 5 seconds. Holding he knee up, opposite arm up and forward pose. It's remarkable how few can do it. And how many end up with the same arm and leg raised.
But yeayh. Balance is a good predictor of health. And, let's face it, if your balance is good, as an older human, you are less likely to fall and break something.

 

[El Guapo]

I can stand for ages on one leg as long as I have another foot on the ground or am holding onto something.

 

[festa5]

Over 2 mins with eyes open then got bored.

Took about 10 goes to get the hang of eyes closed barely lasting 5 secs at first. Then started getting the hang of it and did one for about 30 secs (if that counts after 10 tries!)

Hard!

 

[El Guapo]

I just tried: 15seconds (but I have had quite a few ales) - 51yo

 

[Juninhoburger]

41yo

Well over a minute, eyes open
9 seconds, eyes closed.

Hmmm.

 

[Nero]

Managed to time myself to 2 minutes and stopped. I run 30k weekly so suspected I would be OK.

Edit: Eyes shut was a challenge mind!

 

[1finny]

I got the same advice years ago and started by brushing my teeth standing on one leg.
It’s good wobbly fun at night after a few beers

When I first started I found my left leg was strongest. I put that down to my footballing days. Right footed so left was on the ground more.
Now my right is the strongest.

Do various yoga poses morning and night now so could prob do several mins.

Eyes closed is a laugh - going to practice more now

 

[weststandwally]

68yo,90 seconds eyes open then 15 seconds eyes shut which was surprisingly difficult,

 

[Centralscrutinizer]

Are any of you finding it harder to balance on one leg than the other ? I know we have a dominant leg. I'm better at balancing on one side and not sure it's a dominant leg thing or a legacy of rupturing my Achilles

 

[BlindBoyGrunt]

67 years.
Eyes open, 2.5 minutes before I got bored
Eyes closed, about 4 seconds.

 

[anth25]

Shoes on or off? Definitely easier with shoes on.

Been doing physio recently for a bad ankle and a lot of it has been about balance. I'm truly awful at it!!!

 

[Juninhoburger]

Btw I recommend standing near a wall if you do this.

At some of your reported ages, if you fall over you might not be getting back up again

 

[mercury_redstone7]

Dr Michael Mosley suggests testing your balance on one leg as an indicator of general health.

Good results are said to be:

Under 40: 45 seconds with eyes open, 15 seconds with eyes closed.
Aged 40-49: 42 seconds open, 13 seconds closed.
Aged 50-59: 41 seconds open, 8 seconds closed.
Aged 60-69: 32 seconds open, 4 seconds closed.
Aged 70-79: 22 seconds open, 3 seconds closed.

Loading…

www.sciencefocus.com

Test yourself by putting hands on hips and raising one foot, test with eyes open and then eyes closed.

A few months ago I could manage about a minute eyes open, 12 seconds eyes closed, which was ok for my age (50s).

Been doing daily yoga for some months and tested again today. 45 seconds eyes closed, did 2 minutes eyes open before getting bored. Shows the benefits of yoga!

How about you?

I'm sure you've have had a bet with someone to prove how easily led we are on here Anyway I let you know how I got on.

 

[Centralscrutinizer]

I'm sure you've have had a bet with someone to prove how easily led we are on here Anyway I let you know how I got on.

Well. Another thing that's recommended/important for aging people is how well you can get up off the floor
Should be able to do it without using your hands apparently

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

Managed just under 2 minutes with eyes open, 10 seconds with eyes closed.

 

[sherlock]

Shoes on or off? Definitely easier with shoes on.

Been doing physio recently for a bad ankle and a lot of it has been about balance. I'm truly awful at it!!!

He suggests shoes off.

 

[go-nads!]

I got the same advice years ago and started by brushing my teeth standing on one leg.
It’s good wobbly fun at night after a few beers

When I first started I found my left leg was strongest. I put that down to my footballing days. Right footed so left was on the ground more.
Now my right is the strongest.

Do various yoga poses morning and night now so could prob do several mins.

Eyes closed is a laugh - going to practice more now

Might be cos your left foot presses down on a clutch pedal?

 

[Fattyfoggon]

yeah been doing them for years like Finny twice a day when I brush my teeth, initially started doing it after injuring my ankle ligaments in a fell race to help them recover and reduce the chances of it recurring unfortunately I did it on the other ankle a few years later lol but still do them also balance on a wobble board 2 or 3 times a week at the gym which also helps train the proprioceptors in the ankle to help the balance and stability when running

 

[Unravel_Morrison]

I used to stand on no legs for ages.

Douglas Bader hated me.