Longevity is not nearly how lengthy you reside — it is also about staying wholesome for as a lot of that point as potential. The “sit to face” take a look at is usually a great way to determine how wholesome you might be, and it may possibly even predict how lengthy you may stay, analysis exhibits.

“It’s an oblique marker of your well being,” says NBC Information medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar, who joined the third Hour of TODAY on March 8 and walked the hosts by means of the straightforward take a look at, which some docs use as an indicator of longevity.

What’s the sit-to-stand take a look at?

“It is really a standing to sitting to standing take a look at,” Azar tells TODAY.com. That is a little bit of a tongue tornado, although, so lots of people check with it because the “sit-rise take a look at,” or the “sit to face take a look at.” Principally, you start the take a look at standing, sit down crosslegged on the bottom, after which get up once more.

Sounds straightforward, proper? Not so quick. It is advisable go from standing to sitting and again once more with out utilizing your arms or any a part of your physique apart from your legs and core that can assist you up or down.

What does the take a look at measure?

This easy take a look at is an efficient indicator of well being as a result of you need to have sturdy cardiovascular well being, good stability, agility, flexibility, and core and leg power to have the ability to full it, Azar says.

What is the analysis behind this?

A 2012 examine discovered that the sitting to rising take a look at (SRT) was a big predictor of mortality in contributors between ages 51 and 80. “The examine discovered that the decrease the rating, you have been seven occasions extra prone to die within the subsequent six years,” says Azar.

However, Azar factors out, the individuals who scored lowest within the examine have been the oldest — that means in addition they had the very best danger of demise within the subsequent six years.

That does not imply that the take a look at is not reputable or that it may possibly’t inform you something about your well being even in the event you’re beneath 51, says Azar.

“As we become older, we spend time speaking about cardiovascular well being and cardio health, however stability, flexibility and agility are additionally actually vital,” Azar stresses.

Find out how to do the take a look at

The objective is to go from standing to sitting on the ground and standing once more with none help out of your arms. Here is how you can do it:

• Begin standing and provides your self 10 factors.
• Sit on the ground crosslegged.
• Stand again up.
• Subtract a degree each time you utilize your hand, knee, forearm, or facet of your leg to assist.
• Should you can sit and stand with no help, you scored an ideal 10. Should you couldn’t rise up in any respect, your rating is zero. 

Find out how to interpret your rating

“Eight factors or increased is what you need,” says Azar. However she factors out that there are a variety of issues the take a look at would not consider. “What in the event you’re match, however you had an damage?” she says. The take a look at would not account for accidents, so both wait till you are healed to attempt the take a look at, or do not assume your outcomes are the top all be all measure of your well being.

“The take a look at additionally doesn’t account for musculoskeletal limitations,” Azar says. So if in case you have mobility points, your rating might by no means come to 10. That does not imply you are not well being and match, Azar explains.

Azar provides that she does this take a look at on a regular basis and that her personal rating is not all the time excellent, though she’s in nice bodily well being. A number of components might come into play. If, for instance, you did not sleep nicely or you may have an aching again, give your self some grace. This isn’t a pass-fail take a look at. There’s a complete 10 level scale for a motive.

What if I do not rating nicely?

“Take it with a grain of salt,” Azar says.

You’ll be able to’t management the passage of time — aka getting old — however you may make a call to prioritize your health in new methods. “Should you’re not capable of do it, then take inventory,” Azar suggests. “Ask your self: How can I enhance core power, leg power, stability and agility?”