The inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in the middle to later life is associated with an almost doubling of the risk of death from any cause within the next 10 years, according to research published on the Internet in British Journal of Sports Medicine.
This simple and safe balance test could be included in routine health checks for the elderly, researchers say.
In contrast to aerobic fitness and muscle strength and flexibility, balance tends to be quite well maintained until the sixth decade of life, when it begins to decline relatively rapidly, the researchers note.
However, balance assessment is not regularly included in the health checks of middle-aged and older men and women, probably because there is no standardized test for it and there is little hard data linking it to clinical results other than falls, they add. .
Therefore, the researchers wanted to know if a balance test can be a reliable indicator of a person’s risk of death from any cause within the next decade and, therefore, it may be worthwhile to include in routine health checks later in life.
The researchers used the participants in the CLINIMEX Exercise cohort study. It was created in 1994 to assess the correlations between various fitness measures, exercise-related variables and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, poor health and death.
The current analysis included 1,702 participants aged 51-75 years (mean 61) in their first screening, between February 2009 and December 2020. About two-thirds (68%) were male.
Weight and several measurements of skin fold thickness plus waist size were taken. Details of the medical history were also provided. Only those who had a stable gait were included.
As part of the test, participants were asked to stand on one leg for 10 seconds without any additional support.
To improve the standardization of the test, participants were asked to place the front of the free foot on the back of the opposite lower foot while keeping their hands to the side and their eyes fixed straight ahead. Up to three attempts with both feet were allowed.
Overall, approximately 1 in 5 (20.5%; 348) participants failed the test. The inability to do so increased with age, more or less doubling over the next 5 years from the age of 51-55.
The percentages of those who could not stand on one foot for 10 seconds were: almost 5% among people aged 51-55. 8% between 56-60 years. just under 18% among people aged 61-65. and just under 37% among people aged 66-70.
More than half (about 54%) of people aged 71-75 could not complete the test. In other words, people in this age group were more than 11 times more likely to fail the test than just 20 years younger.
During an average follow-up period of 7 years, 123 (7%) people died: cancer (32%); cardiovascular disease (30%); respiratory disease (9%); and COVID-19 complications (7%).
There were no clear time trends in deaths, or differences in causes, between those who could complete the test and those who could not.
But the death rate among those who failed the test was significantly higher: 17.5% vs. 4.5%, reflecting an absolute difference of just under 13%.
In general, those who failed the test had worse health: a higher percentage were obese and / or had heart disease, high blood pressure and unhealthy blood fat profiles. And type 2 diabetes was 3 times more common in this group: 38% versus about 13%.
After calculating age, gender, and underlying conditions, the inability to stand without support on one leg for 10 seconds was associated with an 84% increased risk of death from any cause within the next decade.
This is an observational study, and therefore, can not determine the cause. As the participants were all white Brazilians, the findings may not be more widely applicable to other ethnicities and nations, the researchers warn.
Also, no information was available on potential influencing factors, including recent history of falls, physical activity levels, diet, smoking, and medication use that could affect balance.
However, the researchers conclude that the 10-second balance test “provides fast and objective feedback to the patient and health professionals about static balance” and that the test “adds useful information on the risk of mortality in middle-aged and older men.” women. ”
For adults under the age of 78, the risk of heart disease is associated with the risk of walking problems. More info: Claudio Gil Araujo et al. British Journal of Sports Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1136 / bjsports-2021-105360 Provided by the British Medical Journal
Reference: Inability to stand on one foot for 10 seconds in the middle until later in life associated with almost doubling the risk of death (2022, June 21) recovered on June 21, 2022 from
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