This is how you can check your biological age. One simple exercise is enough

Dr. Kenton Kaufman, an expert from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, conducted a study indicating the relationship between general health and the ability to maintain balance on one leg. 40 volunteers took part in the study. It has been proven that the length of standing on one dominant leg decreases by 1.7 seconds and by 2.2 seconds on the other leg over a decade.

These studies indicated the relationship between changes in balance that progress with age – too large deviations from the norm may indicate that our body is aging faster, e.g. we have a problem with the circulatory system, which affects biological age. This exercise may be particularly helpful for seniors because the analysis accurately determined the average standing time for older people. Thanks to this, you can easily determine your health condition – if we stand on one leg for a certain number of seconds, our biological age may be close to the real one. A longer time may indicate that our body is slightly younger, while a shorter time may indicate that our body is a bit younger.

How long should we be able to stand on one leg? According to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, it is assumed that:

• people up to 69 years of age should stay on one leg for at least 30 seconds.
• People in their 70s to 80s should be able to hold it for 20 seconds.
• people over 80 should hold for 10 seconds.

What should be most disturbing is the result below 5 seconds. A result of less than 10 seconds for people under 69 years of age should also prompt testing. Of course, younger people aged 20 or 30 will have a better result than people aged 50 or 60. However, the norm for this group is 30 seconds. The lower time indicates, among others: for problems with the circulatory system.

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In the study, participants were allowed to keep the leg they were not standing on where they wanted to. Professor Kaufman pointed out that standing on one leg is a good and simple measure of a person’s overall health. This is because balance reflects how the systems in the body work together.

This exercise can be performed almost anywhere and is very simple. Follow these steps:

1. Stand barefoot on a flat and stable surface, e.g. the floor.
2. Then raise your left leg so that your foot does not touch the ground. You can hold your left leg with your hands.
3. In this position, try to maintain your balance for 30 seconds. Repeat the exercise by lifting your right leg.