Mayo Clinic study identifies balance as key indicator of aging

A study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers and shared by the National Institutes of Health suggests that the ability to stand on one leg may be a more significant indicator of age-related physical changes than walking speed.

Published in the journal PLOS ONE, the research examined the physical performance of 40 healthy adults over the age of 50. The study measured walking speed, grip strength, knee muscle strength, and balance skills. Findings indicated that balance is the area where the most prominent changes occur as people age.

Data showed that the time spent balancing on the non-dominant leg decreases by an average of 21 percent every decade, while the decrease for the dominant leg is approximately 17 percent per decade. Dr. Kenton Kaufman, a senior author of the study, noted that maintaining balance for 30 seconds indicates good performance, whereas individuals unable to balance for even five seconds should be cautious regarding fall risks.