What Do Tests Tell Us?
Based on last week’s push-up challenge, many of you have emailed me to let me know how you did. No matter how many or how few push-ups you did, it’s a start that can help you increase your muscular strength and stamina. All you have to do is to continue to do them as part of your exercise plan.
You may have seen an article in the Washington Post that examined another test associated with increased mortality. The idea is that you’re supposed to start by standing and then lower yourself to a sitting position on the floor with your legs crossed; then rise again. You start with 10 points and deduct one point every time you have to use your hands, arms, or sides of your legs while getting up or down. The fewer the points, the higher your risk of dying sooner.
I’m a dead man if that’s the case. I couldn’t get down because my knee couldn’t handle the stress, hands or no hands; Paula has two bad knees, so she’s out of luck, too. If you can’t get down, you can’t get up.
Maybe you couldn’t do any full push-ups. Are you toast as well?
Understand what the tests mean. If you have strength, you’ll have better balance. If you’re flexible, that helps with core strength and also balance. Stamina indicates you have aerobic fitness. These all speak to your quality of life as well as your cardiovascular fitness, and those are associated with living longer. The simple tests provide a snapshot of where you stand in relation to other people 50 and older. If these tests don’t play to your strengths, there are other tests to assess your strength, flexibility, and balance; don’t give up until you’ve tried those.
Want to live longer? Make fitness a part of your everyday life. Maybe you’ll live longer, maybe not, but you’ll have a better quality of life in however days you live.
What are you prepared to do today?
