April 28, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Do you want to know if you are healthy? Just do one simple exercise


There is one simple exercise by which you can determine if you are healthy.

In principle, of course, it does not indicate 100% of your physical health, but it will give you an initial idea. All you have to do is set a timer for 20 seconds and stand on one leg. Try to stand on one leg for 20 seconds without losing your balance. Research shows that the ability to stand on one leg is a sign of physical health, and improving it can improve your fitness and even increase your lifespan.

The ability to stand on one leg is associated with increased levels of physical activity and a lower risk of falling (injury). Hthe inability to stand on one leg for 20 seconds or more is associated with a high risk of damage to blood vessels in the brain and cognitive decline.

You’re also less likely to be able to stand on one leg without swinging if you have certain medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, or Parkinson’s. Pregnancy and menopause, among other conditions, can also change your sense of balance and impair your ability to stand upright.

According to jpost.com, a study by Kyoto University in Japan found that inability to balance on one leg may indicate a risk of stroke or dementia. The results of this study, published in the journal Stroke, showed that about 50% of people who had a previous heart attack, and 30% of those who had a brain hemorrhage that could lead to a stroke, had difficulty maintaining balance. In addition, people who struggled to balance on one leg also showed signs of impaired thinking and memory.

When we stand, we are often unstable, as the human body has a small support base compared to the height and volume of the body. We usually rely on our central and peripheral nervous systems to process all the information that comes in from the senses, such as the eyes and ears. We then activate the necessary muscles (legs, ankles, core and sometimes arms) to make the adjustments needed to stay upright.

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According to the latest data, standing on each leg for one minute 3 times a day may help improve hip bone density. A stronger hip means less risk of hip fractures later in life, an injury that can greatly reduce a person’s quality of life.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans that they get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week. Although everyone chooses movement in their own way in their life, any exercise is good and much better than sitting or not moving.



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