HEALTH New Study Finds Adults Who Are Unable to Stand on One Leg for 10 Seconds Could Be in Serious Trouble

Countrymouse

Country exile in the city
So---having weak ankles means you're going to die in 10 years?

I remember a guy I dated a few times--who was really INTO ice-skating--commented on how I couldn't seem to stand even a few seconds on one foot and how that meant I had "weak ankles" and probably wouldn't be able to learn to ice-skate.

I was in my 20's then.

So by this measure I should have died 40 years ago...............
 

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
I agree with much of what you say but as I was thinking about it I thought maybe it is a tell tale of how physically active you generally are.

Studies show that people who sit for extended periods of time have a shorter life expectantly.

So I wonder if non active people could always do it. I think that the more active you are the better your balance. Think Martial Artists.

Short story, I took the whole family, in laws too, to Ormond Beach in Florida one year for a vacation in March before the spring breakers showed up wearing their shoe strings and band aids as bikinis. I had kids. All of us guys went deep sea fishing. Well the seas were 6 foot seas. One boat beside us I heard on the radio had every body puking. Our whole boat was puking except for about 5 of us.
Needles to say when the cut bait came out there was even more hurling. The fishing was terrible. The Captain told me Feb was best.

One kid caught one fish out of 50 people. It Was a party boat. So on the way back in I got tired of hearing people hurl so I went up on the top deck and chatted with the non hurlers up there. We all exchanged names, where we were from etc. one guy was some kind of MD. Neurological of some type. He was asking each one of what we do for a living then explained to each of us why we weren’t see sick. Two guys were linemen buddies, a woman was a fitness instructor and I was a Welder. He continued to explain why each of us didn’t get sea sick.
Mine was because I spent much of my day every day in the dark wearing a welding hood. Many times having to balance a lot to continue and not fall off something while welding especially if there was no hand hold.
The two lineman were self explanatory and the fitness instructor was too.

So it may have to do with a lifestyle where balance is needed. It may have to do with falling a breaking something because of lack of balance when you get older. Thus the importance of staying fit and active.

That’s my take on it anyway. I’m sure there are exceptions to large inactive people that can do the 10 seconds. Not sure

My martial arts friend has been into it since he was 10. He went 71 this May. The horse and cat stance were big in our training venue since 1993. He was flat footed and had more of a shuffle in and out style.

The horse stance can be done like a chair, but works well enough at 45 degrees bent leg instead of 90.

When I started in 1993, I felt like I was a gyroscope in movement. Over the next 20 years I would climb a 155 foot sea cliff, at minimum 4x per week, and run or scramble a 4 mile loop on the rocks of every size and angle.

In all those thousands of runs, I had one bad fall with a twisted ankle; hopping on my left leg off the beach and up the trail at a nearby street park.

With my ankle twice it’s normal size by 18:00 hours, I decided to take 3-grams of curcumin powder, in olive oil with a couple tablespoons of Pinot mixed in around midnight.

Upon waking @ 06:00 I was dumbfounded!

My twice the size ankle was back to normal size, I could walk on it for in the house short distances.

Im no neurologist, but I understand many aspects of how balance and many other attributes are enhanced by exercise that TARGETS THE NERVES!

Unlock those knees and be still and feel the burn.
 

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
So---having weak ankles means you're going to die in 10 years?

I remember a guy I dated a few times--who was really INTO ice-skating--commented on how I couldn't seem to stand even a few seconds on one foot and how that meant I had "weak ankles" and probably wouldn't be able to learn to ice-skate.

I was in my 20's then.

So by this measure I should have died 40 years ago...............

Perspective of Balance comes from the inner ear. The brain is the computer, the nerves the firing network of the muscles.

A weakened sense of balance may infer neurological weakness, to include the brain, or on the other hand, nice hips and well, what pauldingbabe said.

My wife does one of her physical therapy exercises, and goes to one leg, leans forward, while jutting one leg back, and is built like, well, you know pauldingbabe, who I’m pretty sure has longer legs than my long legged wife.

Unlock the knees while standing for a minute to start. Extend the time, and the degree of bent leg time. Even for folks with a cane.

It will make dancing fun again!
 

Knoxville's Joker

Has No Life - Lives on TB
This is a sedentary test. Core muscle strength groups plus endurance and stamina are tested. Super active folks like me tjis is not an issue but this is really a fitness test that gives trace tests of everything. Couch potatoes and super sedentary habits are tested with this.
 

pauldingbabe

The Great Cat
Perspective of Balance comes from the inner ear. The brain is the computer, the nerves the firing network of the muscles.

A weakened sense of balance may infer neurological weakness, to include the brain, or on the other hand, nice hips and well, what pauldingbabe said.

My wife does one of her physical therapy exercises, and goes to one leg, leans forward, while jutting one leg back, and is built like, well, you know pauldingbabe, who I’m pretty sure has longer legs than my long legged wife.

Unlock the knees while standing for a minute to start. Extend the time, and the degree of bent leg time. Even for folks with a cane.

It will make dancing fun again!


Well pauldingbabe has 44 inch legs at the top of my hip bone.

And I'm only 5'8...

Yes dancing will be fun again. I'm so glad! I love to dance and I hope yall get to do that again soon.

:hdbng:
 

PghPanther

Has No Life - Lives on TB
As I got older I challenged myself to putting on my underwear one let at a time, standing straight and not holding on to anything. Now that takes balance. I never knew I was doing a medical evaluation.

We had a guy in college who was a gymnast who could hold his pants out with both hands in front of him and jump in both legs at the same time!...........

It was hilarious and every time somebody remarked at a party about "well, we all get in our pants one leg at a time" within a ear shot of this guy he'd say......

"Hey.........wait a minute......lemme show you something"
 

KittyKatChic

Senior Member
Something as simple as trying to stand on one foot as long as you can, standing in corner of kitchen countertop to give a surface to grab if start to tip over. One minute of exercise several times a day can greatly improve

As someone whom literally was released from the hospital 2 weeks ago today for ANOTHER bad fall. THANK YOU! This time was almost really, really bad. They couldn't believe with all the trauma that I didn't break my back, sever my spine, or at least have fractures on the pelvis. I MUST do something! It was super scary! I thought that I was done while I laid their waiting for someone to get to me. :mad:
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
I like doing ballet exercises. Of course, these days I have to be careful when doing the foot positions because they can be tough on your knees. But if you take it slowly, you can build up and everything gets loose again.

I also like to simply dance. That can burn some calories. But my main focus is to work core strength and that takes a lot of thought for awhile. I do things like walk straight and tucked to the car or wherever. It works.

But if you have bad knees I would skip the “foot position exercises” until I built up strength. Try a little at a time. For instance, first position? I can’t really do anymore. I do about 3 and that’s all. The other positions are not so tight so no problem with those.

Otherwise, I mostly work on my legs and stretching. Then holding my gut in like a soldier when I walk somewhere. I did start ballet as a kid so that probably makes a difference.

But, I believe Mary Tyler Moore did these way up into the last year’s of her life. So if you are so inclined, and have decent balance you can use this to strengthen your core. You just have to find something that you can do that makes it fun.
 

bev

Has No Life - Lives on TB
As someone whom literally was released from the hospital 2 weeks ago today for ANOTHER bad fall. THANK YOU! This time was almost really, really bad. They couldn't believe with all the trauma that I didn't break my back, sever my spine, or at least have fractures on the pelvis. I MUST do something! It was super scary! I thought that I was done while I laid their waiting for someone to get to me. :mad:

Wow! I’m sorry you fell and were hurt but very glad it wasn’t more serious. Since you’ve had other falls, do you know why? Any common denominator? Maybe your doctor would prescribe some PT. Also, do you have an emergency alert type button or something?

I fell at home three times in a couple days just a week or two ago. I was sick with the flu at the time, and very congested, so I blame my inner ear. No real injuries except a sore butt.
 

pauldingbabe

The Great Cat
As someone whom literally was released from the hospital 2 weeks ago today for ANOTHER bad fall. THANK YOU! This time was almost really, really bad. They couldn't believe with all the trauma that I didn't break my back, sever my spine, or at least have fractures on the pelvis. I MUST do something! It was super scary! I thought that I was done while I laid their waiting for someone to get to me. :mad:


You have my prayers dear one.

That is an awful experience. Please reach out to someone if you find yourself having a hard time with the mind/body rhythm that these kind of traumas can inflict.

Wow.... :shk:

Just scary.
 

bev

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Heck, I gotta be careful not to kill myself putting on my underwear........I know you know....good to have that third point of contact. The key is to think, do I want anyone to know I died putting on my underwear? Always have that third point of contact, and go in focused..........Good luck in the future, one and all.

Yep, that’s me now. After a few very recent falls, I find myself making sure there’s that third point of contact whatever I’m doing. Putting on underwear / pants / shorts, I’m leaning against the bed. Doing hair / make-up, I’m leaning just slightly forward touching the bathroom vanity. I haven’t figured out a good/safe way to shave my legs in the shower yet, but we have a bench in there that’s helpful, and DH installed a grab bar in there.

And my cell phone is now always within reach!
 

pauldingbabe

The Great Cat
Yep, that’s me now. After a few very recent falls, I find myself making sure there’s that third point of contact whatever I’m doing. Putting on underwear / pants / shorts, I’m leaning against the bed. Doing hair / make-up, I’m leaning just slightly forward touching the bathroom vanity. I haven’t figured out a good/safe way to shave my legs in the shower yet, but we have a bench in there that’s helpful, and DH installed a grab bar in there.

And my cell phone is now always within reach!


Please be careful.

Got prayers for you too

:)
 
  • Love
Reactions: bev

colonel holman

Veteran Member
As someone whom literally was released from the hospital 2 weeks ago today for ANOTHER bad fall. THANK YOU! This time was almost really, really bad. They couldn't believe with all the trauma that I didn't break my back, sever my spine, or at least have fractures on the pelvis. I MUST do something! It was super scary! I thought that I was done while I laid their waiting for someone to get to me. :mad:
Seek out an experienced physical therapist with skills in Falls Risk Prevention. There are very simple effective exercises like the one I mentioned. Should not need more than 2-3 sessions to evolve what you need. Avoid clinics that book you ahead for dozens of sessions; not needed; just soaking your insurance.
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
Have you heard of the siting and rising test for how long you live? Cross legs at ankles, lower self to floor, no touching with hands, get up without touching a hand and if you use a knee or a hand on the floor it takes off points.
That’s something I tell my gkids often. They are all very fit and love bragging on their ‘strong Nana’. Every time I see them I remind them to never stop doing that Exact move!
 

Firebird

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I like doing ballet exercises. Of course, these days I have to be careful when doing the foot positions because they can be tough on your knees. But if you take it slowly, you can build up and everything gets loose again.

I also like to simply dance. That can burn some calories. But my main focus is to work core strength and that takes a lot of thought for awhile. I do things like walk straight and tucked to the car or wherever. It works.

But if you have bad knees I would skip the “foot position exercises” until I built up strength. Try a little at a time. For instance, first position? I can’t really do anymore. I do about 3 and that’s all. The other positions are not so tight so no problem with those.

Otherwise, I mostly work on my legs and stretching. Then holding my gut in like a soldier when I walk somewhere. I did start ballet as a kid so that probably makes a difference.

But, I believe Mary Tyler Moore did these way up into the last year’s of her life. So if you are so inclined, and have decent balance you can use this to strengthen your core. You just have to find something that you can do that makes it fun.
As we age, core is key! Sadly, most Americans have a big fat gut and zero core strength
 

Ractivist

Pride comes before the fall.....Pride month ended.
Yep, that’s me now. After a few very recent falls, I find myself making sure there’s that third point of contact whatever I’m doing. Putting on underwear / pants / shorts, I’m leaning against the bed. Doing hair / make-up, I’m leaning just slightly forward touching the bathroom vanity. I haven’t figured out a good/safe way to shave my legs in the shower yet, but we have a bench in there that’s helpful, and DH installed a grab bar in there.

And my cell phone is now always within reach!
yup, it's like that, though, in all honesty, pinky swear and all.... I have never shaved my legs. So no advice there....

I will share with you all. This past week I went to grab a new razor from my bargain bin stash....and bam, I hit a button on a razor and it began to vibrate. I was like, what's that, and zoned in on the razor. I was somewhat floored. A razor with a built in vibrator..... not sure why, but when I trimmed up my beard, I had to spit a bit more than normal...soap and all. No third point of contact either......just to be clear.

Sorry, made for site op.
 
  • LOL
Reactions: bev
Top