Check How Many Years You Have Left To Live With This Simple Sitting Test

Check How Many Years You Have Left To Live With This Simple Sitting Test

Have you ever wondered how long you might live? If the appeal of a long and healthy life has motivated you to take action, you are probably eating better and exercising. There are countless studies and predictions about what methods will help you get and stay fit, and what will increase your longevity. Did you know there is a mortality predictor that you can use to assess your personal longevity? Sit down, and let’s talk about it.

Aerobic fitness is proven to keep one healthy and alive longer. Also, there is a study that shows body flexibility, coordination, muscle strength, and power-to-body weight ratio favorably influence one’s life expectancy.

In the study mentioned above, over 2000 patients, ranging in ages from 51 to 80 were asked to perform the sitting-rising test (SRT). The average follow-up period with the participants, after the baseline test, was six years and three months. Significantly more deaths (7.99%) occurred among the people with low test scores (below 8).

Sitting-Rising Test (SRT)

Test participants were asked to sit on the floor without any help and then to get up without any help, or with the least amount of help possible. From a starting score of ten points, one point is subtracted with each hand, knee or other body part used to help sit and stand. For example, if you took this test, and you needed one hand on the floor to help you sit down, you lose one point from your beginning score of ten points. If you needed one hand on the floor to help you stand up, that would deduct another point from your starting ten points. Your total score for the test would be eight (not bad!) One-half points were subtracted if the participants were unsteady while sitting or standing.

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The study revealed that the people who scored below eight had mortality rates two to five times higher than those with scores of eight or above.

Test Yourself

• Put on comfortable clothing.
• Stand, barefoot, with a clear space around you.
• Lower yourself, without leaning on anything, and sit on the floor.

If you used your hand to help you sit, deduct one point from ten. If you also leaned on the side of one of your legs before sitting flat, deduct another point.

Okay, it’s time to get up! How did you do? Were you wobbly? If you used a side of your leg, that’s minus one point. Did you use a knee, hand on your knee, your hand on the floor, or your forearm? Subtract a point for each support point that you used.

Test Results

Maybe quite a few points were deducted from you score. Don’t be disheartened. There is value in being able to sit on the floor at all! And to be able to get up! How many of your peers (51- 80 years old) can still do that?

Does it mean you’re going to die if you failed this test? Keep your perspective. Failing this test means that you now have more information about the coordination, balance and flexibility of your body. What you choose to do with that information could help you live stronger and longer.

Medicalnewstoday.com Nbcnews.com