TMHS 875: 3 Fitness Tests to Ensure Your Longevity
Mar 5, 2025
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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.
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.
Improving Gait Speed and Walking Mechanics
Enhancing gait speed involves intentional walking practices and maintaining an active lifestyle, ideally aiming for at least 30 minutes of brisk walking daily. Studies suggest that regular walking can lower risks associated with heart disease and improve metabolic health, supporting the notion that frequency and technique are vital. Moreover, foot health plays a crucial role in walking efficiency; ensuring feet are well-cared for and allowing natural movement can further enhance stride. Addressing foot mechanics, such as embracing barefoot walking or using shoes that promote toe splay, can help improve overall walking efficiency and comfort.
Balance as a Predictor of Longevity
The single leg balance test serves as a significant predictor of longevity, with research indicating that those unable to balance for ten seconds cannot only struggle with daily activities but also face higher mortality rates. The study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests a strong correlation between balance ability and factors such as falls, strength, and resilience in older adults. To perform this test, individuals must balance on one leg for ten seconds without assistance, which reflects one's overall stability and proprioception. Practicing balance movements, such as single-leg deadlifts and other dynamic exercises, can improve this skill and promote longevity.
The Sit and Rise Test and Its Longevity Insights
The sit and rise test assesses an individual's strength and flexibility by evaluating their ability to transition from standing to sitting cross-legged on the floor without using hands, which is essential for everyday functionality. Research shows that performance on this test is significantly linked to survival rates among individuals aged 51 to 80, as it reflects overall mobility and strength. Practicing movements that promote ground-to-sitting transitions can increase mobility, making everyday tasks easier and safer. By spending more time sitting on the floor and practicing varying positions, individuals can enhance their movement ability and overall longevity.
Longevity isn’t just about living a longer duration – it’s about ensuring that you are healthy, mobile, and functional into your later years. And if you want to be healthy and vibrant when you’re older, you’ve got to train for that goal now. Today, you’re going to learn about important markers of longevity that you can measure for yourself. On today’s show, we’re going to go through three fitness and mobility tests you can do to measure your overall health. These three fitness tests are backed by research, easy to conduct at home, and most importantly, can be improved upon if you’re not satisfied with your results. You’re going to learn the science behind why your balance, walking speed, and your ability to get up and down from the floor can tell you a lot about your health. I’m also going to be sharing actionable steps you can use to get stronger, improve your mobility, and increase your chances of a long and healthy life. Enjoy!
In this episode you’ll discover:
What the gait speed test is and how to do it.
What your gait can tell you about your lifespan.
The connection between gait speed and muscle function.
How to improve your gait.
Why walking is considered a wonder drug.
The link between steps per day and testosterone levels.
What the minimum effective dose of walking is.
Why spending time barefoot is good for your health.
The health benefits of walking backwards.
How to do the single-leg balance test.
Why falls can be so dangerous for the elderly.
How to improve your balance.
Why big toe strength is actually an indicator of longevity.
What the sit-and-rise test is.
How to improve your mobility.
The benefits of sitting on the floor.
Items mentioned in this episode include:
Peluva.com/model - Get 15% off barefoot shoes with the code MODEL
Themodelhealthshow.com/longevitytest - Get videos of the longevity tests, charts to see where your performance is at, longevity resources, and more!
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This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Peluva. Peluva’s barefoot minimalist shoes support postural alignment, proprioception, and overall functionality. Get 15% off your order by using code MODEL at peluva.com/model.
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