Have you ever lost your footing on wet or icy pavement causing you to fling your arms out and your heart to race? Or have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night stumbling in the dark to the bathroom only to catch yourself from falling by grabbing the furniture? If you have, then you know how frightening losing your balance can be... Hello Fellow NW Indiana Resident, Each year, one in three seniors fall. That’s 33% of people over 65 years old who will fall THIS YEAR ALONE! These falls can lead to serious injury such as fractures or head trauma. They are also a leading cause of de- creased mobility and dependence on others for day-to-day living. Use this simple 30-seconds test to determine your risk of falling... SINGLE LEG STANDING BALANCE TEST • You may want to have someone nearby to watch you as you try this. • Stand on a hard floor near a table or countertop for support. • Bend one knee and lift the foot – if you’re left-handed, stand on your left leg and lift the right foot; do the opposite if you’re right-handed. You don’t need to lift it high, just enough to keep it off the floor. • Now without holding onto anything slowly count the number of seconds you can hold that position without putting your foot back down. • Repeat the test 3 times, and then add up your total time and divide it by 3 to find your average balance time. (For example, if test 1 was 4 seconds, test 2 was 8 seconds, and test 3 was 6 seconds, you’d add up 4, 8, and 6 to get 18. Divide by 3, and your average balance time is 6 seconds.) • You can try retaking this same test with your eyes closed for a greater challenge. ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE AT RISK OF FALLING? FIND OUT IN THIS 30-SECONDS SELF-TEST • You can try retaking this same test with your eyes closed for a greater challenge.
How long should you be able to stand on one leg?
Eyes Open
Eyes Closed
Age
Balance Time
Age
Balance Time
40-59
25-27 sec
40-59
15-20 sec
60-69
20-25 sec
60-69
9-12 sec
70-79
10-15 sec
70-79
7-8 sec
80
5-6 sec
80
4-5 sec
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