10 Second Balance Test Could Determine Longevity

Being unable to balance on one leg for at least 10 seconds could predict a person’s mortality, according to a new report.

A study published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that this balance test, conducted in Brazil, was connected to the lifespans of numerous patients. Researchers monitored 1702 participants 51-75 years of age from February 2009 to December of 2020: they were initially asked to stand on one leg for 10 seconds without supporting themselves in any way, and were allowed three tries. One in 5 people failed the test, with the ability to complete it decreasing with age: 70 percent of people aged 76-80 failed the test, as compared with 90 percent of those aged 81-85.

Balance is a measure of postural stability, the ability to control the position of the body when movement is occurring. It begins to deteriorate when people reach their 60s, which was also replicated in this study: incapability to perform the 10-second test doubled every 5 years in participants.

Poor health, including conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, contributed to an inability to pass the test. After a 7 year follow up (on average) 17.5 percent of people who could not complete the test had died of various causes - heart attacks, stroke, cancer, etc. - as opposed to 4.5 percent of those who could.

Tests of balance are not more commonly used in routine physical examinations because in years prior, few studies had been performed linking performance in such tests to overall health and lifespan.

Dr. Claudio Araújo, a doctor of exercise and sports medicine in Brazil and author of the study, stated that the test provides “rapid and objective” results for both the health professional and patient.

Though Araújo says that the exact reason for loss of balance predicting a risk of early death has not yet been determined, balance can be an indicator of frailty in older adults, which is associated with less physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, and a poor quality of life in general. It also plays a role in trips and falls, 37 million of which require medical attention annually, according to the World Health Organization.

This study does not present an entirely unexplored concept, either; a 2016 study found that a person’s ability to lift themselves up from a sitting position could predict their risk of death within the next few years. Further, previous studies have shown that not being capable of supporting oneself on one leg for over 20 seconds could be linked to silent strokes and chances of developing dementia.

Balance, though typically an overlooked quality in patients, can, in fact make a difference in their lives. Not being able to complete the test raised the risk of death in the coming years by 84% when conditions such as obesity or diabetes were taken into account.

Araújo notes that after evaluating balance ability, it can be improved through simple, specific training. Many people are oblivious to the fact that they aren’t able to support themselves on one foot, meaning this test can help bring awareness to potentially detrimental standards of living in older adults before it is too late.

However, this test has limits, and isn’t yet an all-inclusive way to assess chances of early death - the study being observational means that causation cannot be established. Moreover, the lack of diversity in participants, all white Brazilians, contributes to the potential skewing of data. A comprehensive look at the impact of diminished balance upon the lifespans of people across different ethnic communities requires further research.