According to research, the average 50-year-old can keep his balance on one leg for about nine seconds, while an 80-year-old can keep his balance for only three seconds. This indicates that as a person ages, their physical condition deteriorates, which can lead to health problems.

To stand on one leg, our body performs many complex tasks. This process involves tiny organs inside the ear responsible for balance, visual signals from the eyes, and large muscle groups in the legs and trunk. Dr. Michael Mosley emphasized in 2019 that the ability to keep balance on one leg for ten seconds with your eyes closed is an indicator of good health, regardless of age.

Scientific research has long confirmed that strength, balance and gait deteriorate with age. However, until recently, it was not clear what exactly was starting to deteriorate first. The Mayo Clinic conducted a series of tests on 40 participants aged 50 to 80 years, excluding people with obesity and diseases affecting balance.

During the tests, the researchers assessed the strength, balance and gait of the participants. Special devices were used to test their strength, and to test their gait, the participants passed an 8-meter corridor with motion sensors three times. Balance tests were performed on both two legs and one.

The results showed that with each decade of life, the time during which a person can stand on one leg decreases by an average of 2.2 seconds. For example, if a 50-year-old person can balance for 15 seconds, then a 60-year-old can balance for only 12.8 seconds. This makes the balance test a good indicator of fragility and the likelihood of falls.

The researchers claim that this simple test can be easily implemented in medical institutions, since it does not require special knowledge or equipment to perform it. Understanding the state of their neuromuscular health will help people make an individual training and recovery plan.