There are a number of tests doctors use to assess our overall fitness and health, but a simple test you can perform from the comfort of your home may help predict your mortality risk. The test was developed by Brazilian physician Claudio Gil Arajulo, and it’s a test you can try out from home. All you have to do is sit on the floor and try to stand up.
Now, for those of you who stopped reading, sat down, stood up and assumed you passed the test, there’s a little more to it than that. The test is called the Sitting-Rising Test, and you start from a standing position and you lower yourself to a seated position. From there, you attempt to get back to a standing position, but there is a point system involved. You start with 10 points, and you deduct points for any assistance you need in order to lower yourself to the ground and pick yourself back up. The scoring system is as follows:
- Hand used for support -1
- Knee used for support -1
- Forearm used for support -1
- One hand on knee or thigh -1
- Side of leg used for support -1
So for example, if you lower yourself to the ground by putting your hand and knee on the ground, and then you stand back up by using the side of your leg and hand for support, you’d lose a total of four points. That leaves you with a total score of 6.
Analyzing Your Score
Araujo gave the test to more than 2,000 patients between the ages of 51 and 80. After looking at the study results, here’s what they found:
- Individuals who scored fewer than 8 points on the test were twice as likely to die within the next six years than those who scored 8 or higher.
- Those who scored 3 or fewer were more than five times as likely to die within the same period compared to those who scored above 8.
- Overall, each point in the SRT test was associated with a 21% decrease in mortality from all causes.
What this test really shows is that it’s important to stay moving, because staying active will help improve all the factors in this test, like strength, balance and range of motion. Daily exercise can really help to develop these muscles and help our bodies remain agile. It’s far from the perfect test, but it is a simple test anyone can perform that can help them get an understanding of their overall health. And if you work on increasing your score, even by just one point, you can greatly reduce your all cause mortality risk!
For more information about the test or health in general, or for help with a foot or ankle issue, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today.
