Another Health/Longevity Measure: How long can you stand on one leg?

[audreyh1]

Is this a test of balance or muscle strength?

I think it’s a test of balance

 

[imjustawarrior]

I could stand for well over a minute and get up from the floor with no hands.

This summer I started doing squats and lunges in addition to hiking. I think this has helped a lot. My balance was embarrassing when I first started the lunges. Now it is not so embarrassing.

I still find it challenging to put on socks while standing. That is my main daily balance workout.

 

[brucethebroker]

Great post OP. I was able to do a minute and i qualify age wise.

Another exercise I started about 15 years ago is to do "heel raises" (stand on your toes, raising your heels-hold, then repeat.) (You can start by holding onto a counter or chair if balance is an issue.) I try for 35 to 40 and get a good calf burn. Many times I will do them while waiting in line to check out at the store-I get a few funny looks, but it is a good use of down time. I try for 3 times a week, and it has really improved my calf muscles.

 

[jollystomper]

Several minutes on either leg. I do a lot of walking (Including walking the course when golfing) as well as gym leg exercises and weights, so that helps. Putting on pants, socks and socks while standing I consider part of my balance exercise/test.

Whenever I am on a long waiting line I tend to do leg exercises like heel raises. I did them this morning while on the early voting line.

 

[ls99]

Who can get off the floor without using their hands? I'm quite sure I have never been able to do that at least as a very tall adult with very little leg muscle.

Do it every morning. I sit down whithout using hands, when done with my movements routine, stand up without using hands. I can also hold myself halfway to full upright for 20 or seconds.
As for one leg stand, well over two minutes, then get bored with it, but I have an excuse, am a figure skater, most of the time of 1 to 2 hour skating session two or thtree times a week, I skate on one leg. Rarely have both skates on the ice at the same time. Oh, and nearly 77 yo.

 

[badatmath]

PT had me do it for a minute which I could do and so he upgraded me to doing it on a cushion. It wasn't bad. I never really tried to go longer cause he switched me to a bosu ball squat.

 

[street]

Interesting!!
Do you use shoes for the test or bare foot? I can do both for ovah a minute.
I also can get up using no hands from the floor.

 

[Ronstar]

Just tried both standing on one leg and standing up without using hands. Over a minute standing on one leg so I quit. Easy to stand up without using hands. Lie on back, rock forward curling one leg under the other and stand up.

 

[ERD50]

The trouble is, technique matters.

I just tried it, first on my 'good' leg (my right knee was acting up just a bit today), was disappointed that I only made it to ~ 16 seconds (I'm 69, near 70).

Then tried on my 'not-so-great' (but dominate) leg. With a technique adjustment, I just stopped at 45 seconds. Then went past 55 on my non-dominate leg.

My technique was to hold the other leg out a bit, and lean a bit to compensate. That allows you to adjust easier (like a tightrope walker with those long weighted rods).

 

[ERD50]

Who can get off the floor without using their hands? I'm quite sure I have never been able to do that at least as a very tall adult with very little leg muscle.

I used to be able to do it, maybe 10 years ago? But I fear straining my back, so I haven't seriously tried since then, I just don't trust my back to handle it, and blowing out my back just isn't worth it.

But, just getting into position and putting in a bit of effort, from what I feel, I'm sure that I could NOT do it today.

 

[RetiredHappy]

I tried to get off the floor without using my hands and found a way to do it fairly easily. I go from lying flat, to a sitting position and tug one leg under the other, then roll forward so that I am on my knees. I put one foot down and push myself up. I don't know how the rest of you get off the floor.

 

[aaronc879]

I tried to get off the floor without using my hands and found a way to do it fairly easily. I go from lying flat, to a sitting position and tug one leg under the other, then roll forward so that I am on my knees. I put one foot down and push myself up. I don't know how the rest of you get off the floor.

I try not to get on the floor in the first place but if I do then I have to push off with my hands to get up enough for my legs to do the rest.

 

[Trailwalker]

I tried to get off the floor without using my hands and found a way to do it fairly easily. I go from lying flat, to a sitting position and tug one leg under the other, then roll forward so that I am on my knees. I put one foot down and push myself up. I don't know how the rest of you get off the floor.

Yep, that's what worked for me. My wife told me that I was cheating. She said I needed to roll forward to my feet without getting on my knees first. Whatever.

 

[aaronc879]

I use too.... now I need hands to get up from a chair....

I also can not get up from a chair without pushing off with my hands unless it's a very high chair. Problem is that at my height my knees are higher than my hips when sitting. Add in my hip replacement and lack of muscle and I am just not very mobile for a 45 year old. Can't imagine what I would do if I was overweight.

 

[audreyh1]

Who can get off the floor without using their hands? I'm quite sure I have never been able to do that at least as a very tall adult with very little leg muscle.

Yes. Routinely. I’m able to get in a kneeling position and bring one leg forward to step up from there.

 

[Koolau]

I have difficulty standing very long on BOTH legs due to back pain. On what I call my "good" days, I can stand and walk reasonably well. On "bad" days, its a struggle to shop at Costco. I use a push cart and then I'm pretty good on my feet. Having taken a gram of acetaminophen helps too.

BUT, my grip strength is well above average, so...

 

[Telly]

A few years ago I could stand on one leg for a long time. But not so long now. I feel like one of my internal gyroscopes has become a bit intermittent. When I start to fail, it's like a control system where the feedback starts to be more and more delayed, where overcorrections grow in amplitude.

I can get up off the floor without using hands or elbows or going through any machinations to do it. I just do it, never think about it.

I can also lower myself into a full squat (without using hands) so my butt's down to the backs of my ankles. I can stay that way for quite a while. I can stand up from there, slowly, or fast, without using my arms or hands to push or throw mass around. Proof is to, from a full squat, cross arms such that each palm is on the opposite shoulder, keep them there, and stand up. Try doing it very slowly too.

For most of my life, I just assumed everybody could do this, except for the very elderly. And I'm not a newby to Medicare. And I have long legs

 

[athena53]

Is this a test of balance or muscle strength?

Both, I think. As I try to stay upright I can feel the sides of my feet trying to compensate as my body shifts one way or the other. I can even feel the muscles in my calves and abdomen tensing. All good exercise.

 

[oldtrig]

I am 77 and just tried it for the first time. I did 60 seconds very easy. I didn't see any reason to keep doing it.
I work in my shop everyday and can get up and down without any problems. I do seem to bump my head more lol

 

[Music Lover]

Is this a test of balance or muscle strength?

Both. Muscle strength allows you to correct with less effort.

If you trip or stumble strong legs may prevent you from falling. But, if you're weak you won't have enough strength and a fall is almost guaranteed.

 

[tulak]

For an extra challenge, try closing your eyes.

Yoga helps. I don’t have balance issues and watch it carefully, since I suspect it’ll be an early indicator that something is off.

I just tried getting up with no hands. Thanks for bringing this one up. It wasn’t an issue, but it’s not a habit. I’ll have to make it one.

 

[audreyh1]

Yoga definitely helps! Lots of great balancing poses. Plus yoga really helps with standing (and thus walking) posture - also super important.

I was able to do the 30 seconds on one leg in bare feet on a hard floor. I did the one knee raised pose. Boy was my ankle working to keep me balanced!

I notice I’m not doing as well with my yoga balance poses compared to a year ago, and more to a year before that, so I really need to work on it.

 

[Ian S]

73 and I was able to do more than a minute on hard floor with socks. I suspect it helps to walk 5.5 miles every day.

 

[aaronc879]

I think it’s a test of balance

I agree. I was about to do 30 seconds even though I likely have less leg muscle than pretty much every person here who is 30 years older than me. I wobbled a lot but was able to adjust to stay balanced.

 

[FREE866]

I'm 58. Did 60 seconds on each leg, right I was more shaky because I'm dealing with plantar facciatis or whatever its called.