December 6, 2024, 2:11 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Certain lifestyle, diet, and exercise factors can influence the speed of aging. This is why there can be significant differences between people of the same age and those who have aged differently due to various environmental influences. A study now shows how you can easily find out for yourself how quickly you age.
Biological age is a suitable measure of how old the body actually is, regardless of chronological age. This is because factors such as lifestyle, genetics, illness, and stress can significantly accelerate the biological aging process. For example, the number of births also plays a role in women’s lives. A new study has now found that a balance test can be used to determine how quickly you are aging.
Table of Contents
Participants Aged 50 and Older
The study recruited both men and women aged 50 to 64 and people over 65.1 The following exclusion criteria were applied:
- BMI over 35
- Difficulty performing everyday activities
- Spinal disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
- People who use walking aids
In total, the cohort size was 40 people who provided information on their demographic data, BMI, and physical activity. In a movement analysis laboratory, trained physiotherapists attached 36 markers to the subjects’ feet, lower legs, thighs, pelvis, trunk, and head. The data from the marker trajectories was recorded using a real-time movement analysis system with 14 cameras.
Strength Measurement
In order to measure grip strength, the scientists used a specially designed device. The test subjects had to sit on a chair with a backrest, hold their elbows at a 90-degree angle, and position their feet flat on the floor. The grip strength was then determined using a handle.
A similar test was carried out with the knees. The test subjects also sat on the chair with their hips and knees at a 90-degree angle. The test subjects were instructed to straighten their knee as quickly as possible.
Both tests were performed a total of three times on the dominant side. There was a break of at least 30 seconds between the tests. Only the individual maximum value achieved was used for the analysis.
Balance Assessment
In this balancing test, the static balance was determined on a force plate to see to what extent this could be related to age. To do this, the test subjects had to stand on a standing surface for 30 seconds. They did this once with their eyes open and once with their eyes closed. The same procedure was carried out in a one-legged stance on the dominant leg. It was important that the participants kept their gaze straight and their arms at their sides during the test. The maximum value was also used for this.
Gait Parameters
To determine the gait parameters, the participants were asked to walk back and forth at their own pace along an eight-metre-long, level walkway. Using the marker tracks, the scientists were able to measure the gait parameters.
Dynamic Balance
In the so-called dynamic stability margin, the researchers used the walking test to calculate the stride length, the base of support, and the body’s center of gravity.
Balance Ability Declines with Age
Using standard analyses, the scientists compared the measurements, age, and gender. The balance test delivered particularly significant results, and the balance time on one leg decreased rapidly with increasing age, regardless of gender. In the two-legged balance test, it was observed that the body began to sway more with increasing age, especially when the eyes were closed.
Although not as pronounced as in the balance test, the strength measurement also provided information about the aging process. With increasing age, grip strength, in particular, decreased, whereas knee strength decreased in smaller steps. Regardless of gender, grip strength decreased by around 3.7 percent and knee strength by 1.4 percent per decade.
Gait parameters were consistent across all age groups.
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Classification of the Study
“While gait parameters did not change with age, we found several balance and strength measures that showed a significant age-related decline. Among these factors, single-leg balance time on the non-dominant side was most affected by age,” the scientists write in their study. These results suggest that the simple balance test could be a valuable tool for monitoring age-related declines in performance. The test can also be performed at home. It could also be used by healthcare providers to develop preventative programs, for example.
Nevertheless, the study also has limitations because the number of participants was very low, at 40, and the survey period was not conducted over a long period of time, only through a single laboratory visit. Furthermore, the participants were only recruited from Minnesota, which is why the results may not apply to other regions and population groups.