Impact of Aging on Balance and Physical Activity
Decline in Physical Activity and Balance
Aging is often linked to a gradual decrease in physical activity levels. However, research suggests that the decline in balance typically begins after individuals reach their sixties.
Prevalence of Falls and Related Fatalities
Falls rank as the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths globally. It is estimated that approximately 684,000 individuals lose their lives each year due to fall-related injuries, with more than 80% of these fatalities occurring in low- to middle-income countries.
Need for Standardized Balance Assessments
Currently, balance assessments are not included in routine annual examinations due to a lack of standardization in testing methods. The introduction of a simple, cost-effective, reliable, and safe balance assessment tool could assist healthcare professionals in identifying patients who may benefit from additional fitness or exercise programs aimed at improving balance.
Research on One-Legged Stance and Survival
A recent study focused on older adults aged 51 to over 80 years to explore the correlation between the ability to maintain a 10-second one-legged stance and overall survival rates. The one-legged stance has been used for balance assessment for over 50 years.
Findings of the Study
The study revealed that the ability to perform the 10-second one-legged stance was significantly impacted by age. Participants who were unable to hold the stance, particularly those over 71 years old, exhibited a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who could successfully maintain the stance for the allotted time.
Reference
Araujo CG; Grüne de Souza e Silva C; Laukkanen JA; Singh MF; Kunutsor SK; Myers J; Franca JF; and Castro CL. (2022) ‘Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals’ Br J Sports Med June 27 2022; doi:10.1136/bjsports-2021-105360.
Image Credit
Photo by Julia Larson at Pexels.