10-second one-legged stance performance may predict survival in middle-aged and older individuals

1. In this study, successful completion of a 10-second one legged stance (OLS) was independently associated with all-cause mortality.

2. OLS performance adds relevant prognostic information beyond demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-based deaths in the world. Poor balance is a major contributor to this and tends to be reasonably preserved until the sixth decade of life. Currently, balance assessments are not routinely incorporated in clinical assessments despite its potential prognostic utility. As a result, the objective of the present study was to assess the prognostic utility of a 10-second OLS in middle-aged and older men and women.

This prospective cohort study used data from the CLINIMEX Exercise cohort and included 1702 individuals (68% men, ages 51-75 years) between 2008 and 2020. Demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables were obtained. OLS performance was assessed barefoot in a standardized position without any other support. Participants were classified as ability (YES) or inability (NO; 20.4% of participants) to complete the test. Cox modelling was used to compare survival curves between the YES and NO groups. During a median follow-up time of 7 years, 7.2% of participants died.

Results demonstrated that successful completion of a 10-second OLS was independently associated with all-cause mortality. Furthermore, OLS performance added relevant prognostic information beyond demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables. However, the present study was limited by the absence of key clinical variables such as recent history of falls and physical activity. Nonetheless, the study’s robust methodology and statistical analysis highlight the clinical potential of 10-second OLS as a prognostic tool in routine practice.

Click to read the study in the BJSM (British Journal of Sports Medicine)

Image: PD

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