How long can you stand on one leg?

20 on each foot is my physio homework for this week as I have just had two new knees.

Done yoga for over 50 years, so for as long as you like! Sorry, show off.

As long as I want to with yes open…
?I’m gonna live for ever, I’m gonna learn how to fly?
And I did when I closed my eyes, ouch.

Eyes open

Cs783

I started following fitness videos during lockdown and discovered that Australian physical activity guidelines for people 65+ cover balance as well as stamina, strength, suppleness. Thanks, Schellea (my fabulous 50s guide)

Good to meet another Fabulous 50s fan, Cs783. I discovered Schellea in lockdown as well and am still doing the workouts 2 years later.

I should probably have died years ago!

About 3 seconds on a good day!

Cannot stand on two legs let alone one.

I did 50 on each leg and only stopped because the leg I was standing on starting aching and I was fed up with it. I am 70 but do a lot of power walking up and down dale and consider myself to be fit.

I can manage 20-30 on right leg but only about 10 on left leg. I think it depends whether you’re right or left handed. We all have a stronger side.

My recent physio class expected us to stand on one leg for 2 minutes. I definitely could not last that long.

I managed about 2 seconds but I am 81.

Quite a while. Do this every morning when brushing teeth. One minute each leg. Have done yoga for years and do tree pose. Soon as I close my eyes though I fall over!

I have a slipped disk so no time at all. Oh dear!

I've practised Shotokan karate for nearly 27 years. If you can't stand on one leg, you can't kick... This is me performing mae geri (front snap kick) but we also practise side kicks, roundhouse kicks, back kick and spinning back kicks. Balance is really important throughout life. Older people are renowned for falling over. Take up karate! You won't regret it...

When you think you can do it, try it with your eyes closed! I read some years ago that if you can stand on your weaker leg (left in my case as I'm right handed) with your eyes closed for thirty seconds your neurologically still in your prime.
No evidence to show it's not journalistic BS though.

With or without shoes? With shoes I can stand on one leg easily and for ages but otherwise I have such awful bunions that my toes are very out of alignment and my balance is awful.

You also have to tuck your lifted leg behind the supporting one which actually shifts your centre of gravity. I can easily do that for about 30 seconds. On the other hand if I just leave my kitten leg by the side I can do it for quite a long time.

Yes! But it's boring. But can manage only a few seconds with eyes closed.

I also tried one of the other tests - walking in a straight line. There are lots of 'tram lines' on the pavements near me from when the pavements were dug up twice for fibre broadband so I used those.

(aged 74)

I don't have very long to live, then!!

Anywhere between 8 and 12 2seconds depending on whether I flap my arms about like a tightrope walker or not.

I minute while I defrost frozen blueberries in the microwave, then change legs and do another minute aged 74

This research has been around a while and it's something you can improve with practice.
I could barely do it at all when I first started Pilates about 5 years ago but can comfortably do 30 seconds on each now.

Hi Maggiemaybe (waving!) not to derail this thread but it’s great to have found fitness videos that work for us isn’t it? Nice to read here of others’ preferred strategies too.

About 2 seconds,