How long will you live? Stand on one leg to find out

Want to know how long you’ll live?  Then stand on one leg.

If you can balance on one leg—and ideally on your non-dominant leg—for 30 seconds or more, then you’re likely to live a good few years to come.

The exercise gives an indication of muscle strength, and it tests visual abilities, say researchers from the Mayo Clinic.

It also tells you how steady you are, and this can determine whether or not you may suffer a fall.  Falls are the main cause of injury among the over-65s.

The researchers assessed the balance of 40 people who were aged 50 and over, who also performed walking and grip and knee strength tests.

The good news is that it works both ways: improving your balance helps co-ordinate your muscles, which, in turn, could help you live longer.  “If you don’t use it, you lose it.  If you use it, you maintain it.  It’s easy to do and you can do it every day,” said Kenton Kaufman, one of the researchers.

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