Why You Should Try Standing On One Leg ...

Can you stand on one leg without falling? If you can, you should be happy and if you can not, well, try to work on your balance.
According to a study published in the journal Stroke ,being unable to stand on one leg for more than 20 seconds was linked to an increased risk of 'silent' stroke - tiny bleeds in the brain that don't cause symptoms, but which raise the risk of both full-blown stroke and dementia.

The ability to balance on one leg is an important test for brain health,' "Individuals showing poor balance on one leg should receive increased attention, as this may indicate an increased risk for brain disease and cognitive decline.

..says Dr Yasuharu Tabara, associate professor of genomic medicine at Kyoto University, Japan, who led the research.

53-year-olds who could stand on one leg for ten seconds with their eyes closed were the most likely to be fit and well in 13 years' time. However, those who could manage only two seconds were three times as likely to die before the age of 66.

How to Test your balance 

So, how good is your balance? To find out, take this test, based on a U.S. study published in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy.
The researchers measured how long, on average, different age groups could balance on one leg for in order to establish what might be considered 'normal'.

To do the test, time how long you can stand on one leg, with your arms resting on your hips. Stop the clock when your raised foot touches the floor or your other leg, or you have to lift your arms off your hips to steady yourself - then compare your results with what's considered 'normal' for your age.

Under 40 with eyes open: 45 seconds
With eyes closed: 15 seconds

40-49 with eyes open: 42 seconds
With eyes closed: 13 seconds

50-59 with eyes open: 41 seconds
With eyes closed: 8 seconds

60-69 with eyes open: 32 seconds
With eyes closed: 4 seconds

70-79 with eyes open: 22 seconds
With eyes closed: 3 seconds

80-99 with eyes open: 9 seconds
With eyes closed: 2 seconds