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Scientists Reveal At-Home ‘Balance’ Test That Is a Sure-Shot Measure of Aging

Scientists have studied a range of fitness tests with older participants to establish the value of balance and its impact on aging.

BY TIYASA BISWAS

UPDATED NOV 19, 2024

Man at home trying to balance himself on one leg while holding a chair for support. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61)

Declining age comes with an array of health problems. While personal well-being varies from person to person, scientists have revealed an easy at-home fitness test to determine the impact of aging, per the Independent. A new study has shown that the ability to stand on one leg can measure aging in humans more efficiently than testing other abilities like strength or gait. Balance has a greater role to play in health issues with age, with scientists marking unintentional falls as one of the leading causes of injuries in older people.

Seniors following the teacher in a yoga exercise class. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Betsie Van der Meer) — Senior citizens practice balancing on one leg. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Betsie Van der Meer)

Study says balance test is an effective method of determining age

Scientists tested 40 healthy people over the age of 50 on a number of aspects, including walking, balance, knee, and grip strength, as per the study published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE in October 2024. The participants were divided based on their age being over or under 65 and underwent a few fitness tests. Loss of balance was the main testing factor in the study as it has been found that people over the age of 65 witness the highest number of unintentional falls further causing serious injuries, per the source. Senior author Kenton Kaufman, who also worked on the study, said, “Changes in balance are noteworthy. If you have poor balance, you’re at risk of falling whether or not you’re moving. Falls are a severe health risk with serious consequences.”

A weak elderly woman with a walking stick fell on the floor. (Representative Image source: Getty Images | Real People Group)

Hence, the participants underwent four balance tasks each, standing on force plates for 30 seconds. To start with, they were asked to stand on both feet with their eyes open, and the next, with their eyes closed. Following that, the participants had to stand on their non-dominant leg with their eyes open and for the final test, they stood on their dominant leg with eyes open for 30 seconds. There were restrictions on how they would hold their other leg. After the balance tests, scientists found out that standing on one leg, the non-dominant one precisely, indicated greater rates of age decline.

Why is balance an important factor?

According to the source, balance requires a combination of factors– muscle strength, vision inputs, signals from the inner ear, and the involvement of other sensory organs. The study also noted the results of knee strength and gait tests but it was not comparable to the results of balance tests. Meanwhile, it was revealed that the gait remained largely unaffected with declining age. However, grip strength appeared to decrease faster than knee strength. Both sexes were equally affected by age in gait and balance parameters, implying a decline in age does not specifically impact a particular gender.

An old woman doing yoga in the park practices balancing on one leg. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | RDNE Stock Project)

In conclusion, the study stated, “The duration an individual, whether male or female, can maintain balance on one leg emerges as the most reliable determinant of aging.” In contrast, former studies, as the source states, have suggested that muscle strength and a productive gait in addition to balance are crucial to experiencing healthy aging. Hence, the new study seeks to challenge the pre-existing notion with a focus on the greater efficiency of balance.