Leg strength and longevity

This page on leg strength and longevity looks at balance, walking speed and the quadriceps muscles.

The longevity of those living such healthy, vigorous lives in their dotage in the five Blue Zone places in the world is a complex affair. If it was simple we would all dwell victoriously to be a hundred plus; but we don't, so many falling far short of the allotted mark.

Researchers have likened longevity to a four-legged stool.

• Better food
• Physical activity
• Mental engagement
• Social connectedness

In this short essay we look at physical activity.

Balance

Balance is coordinated by three independent systems in the body.

• The eyes focus on the horizon, attempting to keep it level.
• A healthy neurological system brings sensory information from the feet to the brain giving information about one's position in space.
• Tiny organs in the inner ears help to coordinate movement.

All three need to be exercised; and the easiest way is simply to spend additional time outside in the sunshine; it improves eyesight and obviously one is more active. Leg strength is not enough; balance is equally important.

After standing up from a chair, a very simple exercise is to rotate the whole body through 360^o, first in one direction and then the opposite.

Secondly stand at the kitchen counter with a finger lightly on the surface. Raise one foot off the ground, now raise your hand and practise balancing on your leg.

Gait speed

Draw two chalk lines 10m apart. Practise walking and timing yourself; can you cover the distance in under 12.0 seconds? Then you can be pleased.

Researchers found that 80 year olds who could walk the 10m in 11.4 seconds on average lived to 95; more than another decade.

It is highly recommended that for as long as possible we walk briskly for 20 minutes daily; when you can no longer manage that, try for 15 and then 10. Make half a dozen 10m spurts of speed.

Sloth, that word made famous by John Bunyan keeps us comfortably seated on the couch or at the computer. It's all about leg strength and longevity; does not an extra 15 good years sound like music in your ears?

30 second chair stand test

The chair stand test is in particular a measure of the strength of the quadriceps muscles in the thigh; but in fact of the whole leg.

Sit in a chair about 43cm high; cross your arms across your chest. Ask a friend to time out 30 seconds. How many complete sit to stand moves can you make^[2]?

The average 80-year old should be able to do about 12 stands. 15 and above is excellent, less than 9 is of concern.

There are many recommended ways of developing the quadriceps muscles; leg strength and longevity.

1. This isometric contraction is in fact the best. Sit on a stool with your foot hooked under the rail of another chair. Contract the muscles of the thigh to about 80% of your strength, hold for 45 seconds and then relax.
2. The second is to stand with your heels about 6" from a wall, bend the knees just a little and slide the buttock downwards. Don't go too deep. Hold for 45 seconds.
   

Done several times daily these two exercises will significantly drop your blood pressure too; by enough to get many people off hypertensive medication.

• Salt versus potassium blood pressure debate
  

Leg strength and longevity

Leg strength and longevity are closely correlated.

Elderly Cyan Zone people need strong legs and good balance; cleaning of solar panels must be done periodically.

The other three legs of the chair

Better food, social connectedness and mental engagement are the other three legs of the chair that the Blue Zone researchers talk about.

• Try and eat at least 7 different coloured foods every day; for their phytonutients that protect us from serious disease.
• Staying regularly in contact with family, friends and other groups of people is core to a happy, fulfilled life.
• Play games like chess, do Sudokus and crosswords; and consider joining a book club or bible study group, for example.
  

May you live to be a hundred!

A gardening club

A gardening club would help one attain all four of these objects. You meet with other like-minded people, get plenty of leg strength exercise and share with fellow greenies how they successfully grow fresh, organic fruit and vegetables.

The mental challenge in these last weeks how been how to rid our broad beans from the dreaded black fly without using an insecticide. The soapy water from the laundry, dribbled over the vulnerable tender leaf tips and flowers has done the trick.

The broad bean is the only plant that will supply pharmaceutical amounts of dopamine, the happy hormone; good news for Parkinson's Disease patients especially. It is no coincidence that in all five of the Blue Zone countries they independently grow and enjoy these legumes.

• Broad bean tips

Sardinia

In the mountainous part of Sardinia, a cluster of villages makes up one of the five Blue Zone areas of the world; living to a zestful, busy ninety is the norm.

What distinguishes these long-living people from the rest of the island is not the food they eat, their customs or genes; it's the fact that they walk up and down stairs daily and to get anywhere they have to exercise their quadriceps muscles; it is hilly. Leg strength and longevity are closely intertwined.

How do I improve my longevity?

We are looking here at not only length of life but also quality years. It's the small stuff done regularly that really makes the difference. Taking a walk in the sunshine, enjoying many coloured foods and avoiding processed foods all rank on the things that we can do.

In fact walking after every starchy meal; and especially after supper the researchers tell us.

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