Rae Witte reports for National Geographic on the importance of being able to stand on one leg with your eyes closed for at least 10 seconds as you age. Put differently, you might have a health condition in need of addressing if you can’t stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds.
Being able to stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds with your eyes closed is a sign of healthy aging. It is a greater indicator of healthy aging than your strength or gait. It speaks to your neuromuscular health. If you can’t do it, it also could indicate other health conditions.
Your inability to balance on one leg is a potential sign of other diseases. People who are inactive are less likely to have good balance. People with brain issues also could have poor balance.
In fact, people with diabetes, Parkinson’s, arthritis and many other chronic conditions are likely to have poor balance, worsening as you age. For stability, you need good cognitive function. And, a life without activity after age 40 is likely to make it harder to balance with your eyes closed.
What you need to know: Without good stability, you are more likely to fall and really hurt yourself as you get older. In one year, about 40,000 Americans over 65 fall and die. But, you can train yourself to reduce your likelihood of falling. All it takes is moving and engaging your brain.
Use your core for stability. Don’t rely on your back or your legs. And work on your “reactive balance,” for example, what you need to do to catch a ball without falling. Try walking barefoot to improve your foot mobility. Move!!!!
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