AARP Hearing Center
5 Tests to See How Well You Are Aging
Take this series of self-tests to find out if you’re above average — and what it takes to get there
Illustrations by Elena Lacey
If we had a pill that accomplished everything that physical activity does for overall health, we would prescribe it for everyone,” says Donald Hensrud, M.D., former medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program.
Overall fitness isn’t just about breaking a sweat; it’s about four specific areas — aerobic endurance, muscular strength, flexibility and balance, he says. “Where you currently stand with each can help you plan the smartest approach when it comes to creating your own personal fitness regimen.”
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
These tests, and the scoring charts, are based on a series of assessments used by the Mayo Clinic to test the health and fitness of its clients.
To get the most accurate assessment:
- Take each test before you exercise (if you already have a routine).
- Don’t try them if your muscles are sore, stiff or tired.
- Warm up first by walking in place for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Wear loose clothing that doesn’t restrict movement, as well as comfortable, supportive sneakers.
NOTE: If you’re new to exercise, always check with a physician before starting a fitness program for the first time.
Aerobic fitness
Why it matters: “Aerobic [or cardiovascular] fitness is one of the best indicators of long-term health and overall mortality,” says Hensrud. “The higher your aerobic level, the more oxygen your heart and muscles are able to utilize to produce energy.” Walking pace is a great measure of fitness. A 2019 study of nearly 475,000 people in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that those who walk more briskly have longer life expectancies.
Test yourself
Elena Lacey
1. The 1-mile walk
- Measure out 1 mile on a flat road using your car’s odometer, or find a standard quarter-mile track — four laps around the track equals 1 mile.
- Using the stopwatch function on your smartphone, start the clock and walk as quickly as you can. Don’t run or jog. Just keep up a steady pace, slowing down or speeding up as you like, but try to finish as rapidly as possible. Then stop the clock.
Improve your score
“Incorporate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise into your week,” advises Hensrud.
Walking, running, cycling, stair-climbing, swimming, dancing and aerobics classes are just a few of the options that work. What counts is elevating your pulse to between 60 and 70 percent of your maximum heart rate (MHR) and keeping it there for the entire session.
Roughly, that means exercising hard enough that you can carry on a conversation, but with a little bit of difficulty. Alternatively, get yourself a heart-rate monitor. To find your MHR, just subtract your age from 220. For example, if you’re 60, your MHR would be 160 (220 minus 60). That means you would need to keep your pulse at between 96 and 112 beats per minute.
Flexibility
Why it matters: “Staying flexible stimulates blood circulation, promotes better posture, relieves stress and postural-related pain, and allows your joints to move through their complete range of motion,” says Hensrud. That last benefit alone helps to improve your overall performance while simultaneously lowering your risk of injury during any activity.
Test yourself
Elena Lacey
2. The sit and reach assessment
This simple test measures your range of motion in the lower back, hips and hamstrings (the backs of your thighs).
Put a yardstick on the floor and hold it in place with a piece of painter’s tape at around the 15-inch mark. Sit on the floor with the yardstick between your legs, placing the soles of your feet even with the 15-inch mark. Extending your arms, exhale as you gently reach forward as far as possible, holding the position for at least one second. Repeat the test three times and record the farthest reach of the three.
Your flexibility is considered on target if your fingers reached the following distances.
Improve your score
“Implement a full-body stretching routine two to three times weekly,” says Hensrud. Include stretches for the neck, shoulders, chest, upper back, lower back, hips, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves and feet.
Muscular strength
Why it matters: “Your muscles do more than just make you more functional and able to participate in activities throughout the day. The amount of muscle you have also determines your basal metabolic rate, which is the number of calories your body burns at rest,” says Hensrud. Here are two ways to judge.
Test yourself
Elena Lacey
3. The push-up test (for upper-body-strength)
Men: Get into push-up position, hands shoulder-width apart, legs extended and back straight. Slowly bend your elbows until your chest nearly touches the floor, then push back up. Do as many as you can with good form and without resting.
Women: Do the same, but from a kneeling push-up position.
Test yourself
Elena Lacey
4. The squat test (for lower-body strength)
- Stand about 12 inches in front of a chair with your feet hip-width apart and your arms extended straight out in front of you.
- Holding this posture, slowly push your hips back and bend your knees until your butt almost touches the seat of the chair. Slowly stand back up. Do as many as you can without using your arms to help.
Improve your score
For both the push-up test and the squat test, perform a mix of resistance exercises that work both the upper and lower body two to three times a week. Rest for 24 to 48 hours between workouts.
Balance
Why it matters: “Most people think of osteoporosis as the main cause of hip fractures when, in reality, it’s instability,” Hensrud says. “Having better balance leads to fewer injuries and greater independence.” A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine recently linked the ability to balance on one foot for at least 10 seconds to a reduced risk of mortality in people ages 51 to 75.
To make matters worse, it’s the ability we’re most likely to lose the fastest as we age, according to new research from the Mayo Clinic. When researchers compared the natural age-related decline of four specific areas in both men and women (grip, knee strength, gait, and balance), standing on one leg had the highest rate of decline—1.7 seconds per decade with the dominant leg and 2.2 seconds with the non-dominant leg. That’s why it’s so important to know where you ‘stand’ to keep this skill from fading in the first place.
Test yourself
Elena Lacey
5. The one-legged balance test
Stand barefoot next to a wall or countertop. Lift one foot an inch or two off the floor to balance on one leg. See how long you can last before you need to put your foot back down or reach for support. Repeat the test on your other leg. Do the test three times with each leg; record the best of the three tries.
Now perform the test again with your eyes closed.
That’s no typo! The subjects in the research we used to create this test who were in their 70s stayed on par—and even slightly edged out—those in their 60s.
Improve your score
Simply repeating this test every day is a great place to start, but you can easily boost your balance by routinely engaging in activities that safely challenge your stability, such as walking outdoors (particularly on trails or grass), doing leg exercises that work one leg at a time (such as lunges), or taking core-strengthening classes like yoga, tai chi, dance and Pilates.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include new information and test levels.
Correction: Certain time ranges in the 1-mile walk test chart for people ages 70 and older have been updated to reflect accurate goals.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
Strengthen Your Bones With These 5 Moves
Keep bones strong with these simple exercises at home8 Training Tips for Older Runners
Expert advice for keeping on track
25 Great Superfoods to Help You Live Longer
These delicious foods can help us stave off disease and keep us healthy as we age