https://immattersacp.org/weekly/archives/2022/06/28/4.htm

Standing on one foot for 10 seconds may predict mortality risk for adults ages 50 or older

A simple test adds relevant prognostic information beyond age, sex, and several other anthropometric and clinical variables, according to a recent study.


The ability to successfully complete the 10-second one-legged stance was independently, inversely associated with all-cause mortality, a study found.

To assess whether the one-legged stance test adds relevant prognostic information, researchers assessed anthropometric, clinical, and vital status for 1,702 patients ages 51 to 75 years between 2008 and 2020 to compare survival curves and risk of death according to ability or inability to complete the test. Results were published June 21 by the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Overall, 20.4% of patients were classified as unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds. During a median follow-up of seven years, the mortality rate for this group was 17.5%, compared to 4.6% in those who could complete the test. Survival curves were worse for the patients who were unable (log-rank test=85.6; P<0.001) than those who were able. In an adjusted model incorporating age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities, the all-cause mortality in those who could not complete the test was higher than that of patients who could (hazard ratio, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.23 to 2.78]; P<0.001).

The study authors wrote that adding the 10-second test to a model with established risk factors appeared to significantly improve mortality risk prediction, and they concluded that there is potential benefit to including it as part of routine physical examination in middle-aged and older adults.

“In our 13 years of clinical experience routinely using the [10-second one-legged stance] static balance test in adults with a wide age range and diverse clinical conditions, the test has been remarkably safe, well-received by the participants, and importantly, simple to incorporate in our routine practice as it requires less than 1 or 2 min to be applied,” they wrote.