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The Model Health Show

TMHS 875: 3 Fitness Tests to Ensure Your Longevity

Mar 5, 2025
Discover three fitness tests that can help you measure and enhance your longevity. Learn how your walking speed impacts your lifespan and why gait is crucial for health. Explore the benefits of barefoot living and the surprising advantages of walking backwards. Delve into the significance of balance, especially for older adults, with practical exercises to improve strength and mobility. This insightful discussion equips you with science-backed strategies to ensure a healthy and vibrant life as you age.
50:53

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The gait speed test serves as a vital predictor of longevity, emphasizing the importance of maintaining walking speed for overall health.
  • The sit and rise test measures strength and flexibility, indicating one’s mobility and functionality essential for longevity in older age.

Deep dives

Understanding the Gait Speed Test

The gait speed test is a simple yet powerful indicator of life expectancy, developed from research showing that walking speed correlates strongly with health outcomes. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights how a person's walking speed can predict life expectancy with accuracy similar to more complex health assessments. Participants can perform this test at home by measuring a six-meter stretch, walking at their normal brisk pace while being timed. Achieving a gait speed of two meters per second or more is considered excellent, and the test not only reflects current fitness but also relates to various health factors such as body weight and muscle function.

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