How long you should be able to stand on one leg, according to your age
So standing on one leg is a good way to measure how much balance you have. The researchers wrote that it is a ‘a valid measure of frailty, independence, and fall status and proves to be a useful tool in identifying patients with peripheral neuropathy.’
And luckily for us, the NHS has a guideline on how long you should be able to stand on one leg for – depending on your age of course .
‘It might sound like an odd question, but your answer to the above question could tell you a lot about your general health and fitness’.
The rules are:
• Keep your eyes open and your hands on your hips
• Stand on one leg without any other support
• Time starts when your foot leaves the ground and stops when you put your foot back down (or when you take your hands off your hips)
If you are aged between 18-39, you should be able to stand on one leg, like a flamingo, for 43 seconds.
If you are aged between 40 and 49, you should be able to stand on one leg for 40 seconds.