This 10-Second Fit Test Could Predict How Long You Will Live

Sitting-rising test may not be for everyone

Araújo’s trial excluded those with serious mobility issues and severe joint pain, and that’s important to know, especially for older adults, says Dr. Karl B. Fields, a sports medicine physician at Cone Health in Greensboro, N.C., and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Fields says people with severe hip or knee arthritis or a joint replacement might struggle to get down to the floor and back up safely. Indeed, his own artificial knee joint doesn’t offer the range of motion for him to sit flat on the floor.

“If you’re getting joint pain and struggling with really doing this because of some joint limitations, don’t push yourself,” he advises.

Instead, he recommends asking your doctor about other tests that can offer insight into your longevity and functional fitness level, such as the 30-second balance test, the Timed Up & Go test, the six-minute walk test or the aforementioned sit-to-stand test. (See also: 5 Tests to See How Well You Are Aging.)

“All of these tests have some good correlations that if you’re doing better, you have a better chance of living longer,” Fields says. Because results can vary, clinicians often look at a combination of tests, he says.

That said, Fields says he appreciates the way the sitting-rising test incorporates balance, flexibility, strength and power into one assessment.

“It’s an impressive study,” he says. “If you can do it, boy, it’s a powerful predictor.”

The sit-to-stand test grades your ability to sit and stand without using assistance. It uses a scale and deducts one point for every time you use help.

Elena Lacey

How to perform the sitting-rising test

If you are ready to give the sitting-rising test a go, this video from Araújo’s Clinimex exercise clinic demonstrates how it’s done. Here are the basic steps:

• Recruit a family member or friend to watch you perform the movement, tally your score and provide support if you get off balance.
• Clear a space on a nonslippery, flat surface. If the floor isn’t carpeted, put down an exercise mat behind you in case you land hard while sitting. You also might want to have a sturdy chair nearby in case you need support.
• Remove your shoes and socks.
• Without worrying about speed, cross your legs and slowly lower yourself to the floor. Try to use the least amount of support possible, such as putting your hands on the floor.
• Then, rise from the floor, again using the minimum support you feel is needed.
• Scoring: You can earn up to five points each for sitting and standing, for a total score of 10. You get a perfect score if you complete both movements without using your hands, knees, elbows or any other support. One point is subtracted each time you use a body part for assistance — like putting a hand on your knee or your knee on the floor. An additional half-point is deducted for any unsteadiness.

5 ways to improve your score on the sitting-rising test

Data from Araújo’s clinic shows that scores on the sitting-rising test tend to decline with age, with fewer than 8 percent of adults age 55 and older achieving a perfect score.

Ideally, Araújo says, you should aim for a score greater than 8. If your score is below that, the good news is that you can improve it, he says.

He recommends trying to identify which component is hurting your score — balance, flexibility, strength, power or body composition — and targeting it directly.

Your primary care doctor or medical specialist, a personal trainer or a physical therapist can also help pinpoint weaknesses and specific exercises.

Here are some ways to improve your performance:

1. Work on balance

If you can’t stand on one leg for 10 to 15 seconds, it’s a sign your balance needs work, says Araújo. The easiest fix? Practice. Try standing on one leg several times a day, maybe while brushing your teeth or waiting for your coffee to brew, Alston suggests. Once that’s easy, try doing it with your eyes closed. (AARP members try: The No. 1 Exercise for Balance) 

2. Add resistance training

Federal guidelines recommend at least two strength training sessions a week using weights, resistance bands or your body weight. Have only a few minutes? Squatting — in the air, against the wall or from a chair — will build the lower-body muscles you need for the sitting-rising test, Alston says. Glute bridges and heel lifts/calf raises will also strengthen key muscles. (Read: The No. 1 Exercise to Do As You Age.)

3. Boost your muscle power

If you need more than one hand for support when rising from the floor, your muscular power may be lacking, Araújo says. Power is about how quickly you can move your body weight. “You can be very bulky but unable to climb a flight of stairs,” Araújo explains. To build power, he suggests doing fewer repetitions with heavier weights and focusing on moving through each rep as quickly and explosively as possible.

4. Improve flexibility

A lack of flexibility is a major reason many older adults struggle with sitting and rising, Araújo says. For a basic test of hip and knee flexibility, he recommends seeing how low you can squat, keeping your heels flat on the ground. Ideally, your buttocks should be close to the floor, below your knees. To improve your flexibility, prioritize regular stretching and incorporate activities like yoga, tai chi, Pilates and dance. (If you’re new to yoga, read Getting Started With Yoga for Fitness.)

5. Minimize chair time, and sit on the floor if you can

Jon Krause

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Sitting too much is tied to a shorter lifespan and a raft of health problems, including damaging your fitness and mobility levels. Aim to move more throughout the day, Alston suggests, and when you do sit, try sitting on the floor more often (with a cushion if needed). Getting down on the floor regularly can “help maintain natural hip range of motion,” Alston says — and it gives you real-world practice for the fundamental movement behind the sitting-rising test: getting up from the ground with ease.