*Recent studies indicate that the ability to balance on one leg deteriorates with age more than other fitness skills.
Researchers believe this decline occurs because balancing engages various brain and body functions simultaneously. Per The Huffington Post, the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Board asks: “How long can you stand on one leg like a flamingo?” Adding: “It might sound like an odd question, but your answer to the above question could tell you a lot about your general health and fitness.”
To perform the test, individuals must stand on one leg with their hands on their hips and eyes open. The timing begins when the foot lifts off the ground and ends when the foot is lowered or hands are removed from the hips.
Selina Lim, Divisional Director for Integrated Pathways at the NHS East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We know that people who struggle to balance for the expected amount of time are at a higher risk of developing ill-health as they age.
“By taking part in the ‘flamingo challenge’ people can quickly and easily assess for themselves whether they are at risk. If they are, there are lots of different activities they can engage in that can help improve their overall fitness,” Lim added.
Per the NHS, you should aim for:
1) Ages 18–39
- 43 seconds
2) Ages 40–49
- 40 seconds
3) Ages 50–59
- 37 seconds
4) Ages 60–69
- 30 seconds
5) Ages 70–79
- 18 to 19 seconds
6) Ages 80+
- A little over 5 seconds.
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