Sit to RIse test predictor of early death? Can you do it? I can't!

Can't help rowantree, osteoarthritis in my knees so no chance here as movement is restricted. Maybe I'm doomed . Seriously, as you go to a gym regularly why not ask a coach what they think? I wouldn't worry too much, you are working on your fitness, good for you. If I understand the principle correctly as your core strength increases this particular exercise will be easier. Perhaps think about working towards it?

Load of bollocks, that test. My mum has never been able to even sit cross-legged properly (neither have I, nor some of my siblings; it's a hip thing). Mum's 87.

What if you have arthritis in your knees and hips and ankles (and other joints) as well?

Pish. Ignore it. It's entertainment rather than science.

PS I can get up from a low crouch no hands and do so several times a day. Maybe you should aim for that instead, rowantree. Good luck

What is considered an early death?

annsixty
Made me laugh out loud

I would guess a day before it was meant to be annsixty.

Good question. I came across the sit to stand test a year or so ago and I couldn't do it even though I used to teach exercise. Old injuries /arthritis /ageing changes setting in.

However, use it or lose it applies to the body as well as the mind and I decided to challenge myself. With the help of pilates and yoga and a bit of thought and experimentation I can now do it thought I have learnt that I need to sit in a 'z' position and roll forward and one side is quite stiff and difficult. I also worked in the gym at leg and pelvic muscle and core strength. Keeping these muscles strong supports the internal organs and your spine. So the sit to stand straight off is a bit like setting off to conquer Everest with no training but it can at least be approached with a positive mind set.

P.s. If you don't like pilates or yoga, try tai chi. It's a slower route but the outcome will be the same.

P.s
Rowantree well done for trying and keeping going!

Thank you - I guess you're all right and that working towards it is the best way forward. Sometimes these programmes serve to panic viewers - they don't go into anything in sufficient detail or give us a chance to look at the underlying science/studies for ourselves. A more in-depth programme would be better, but these days it seems you get bite-size information and it ends up feeling rather patronising.

I had no idea what this thread was about, not having seen the programme probably because I don't want to live with Angela Rippon, long or short term. Anyway, I have googled it and now proved to myself I cannot do it. ( Having never had an injury to my back or legs (fingers crossed) does this mean that I have undiagnosed arthritis or some other bone disease?). Or does it mean that my legs are not as strong as they used to be? I know you are trying to help Azie, but please could you suggest something with a bit more oomph in place of Pilates etc. Never has a star sign been more apt in my case, Taurus. Like a bull in a china shop and can't be doing with slow and leisurely. Rowantree, I do agree with your comment about the state of documentaries nowadays. Bite-sized bits of info, lots of repetition. Not sure if that is for the sake of older people or younger people. Surely we all used to have an attention span longer than a gnat? I think I agree with Baggs about the test. Bollocks.

baggs I envy you. If I crouch down, nothing short of a forklift truck will get me up again, hands or no hands

I agree, it is rubbish. I am slim, not at all overweight, only 5'4" tall and cannot do it. Like Baggs I cannot sit crosslegged, never have been able to.

Mumis 100 next birthday and never been able to do it. So presumably early death means more than 100

Well I too had to google it I could never do it even when I was young ...I can get down with no hands but getting up is another matter I can however do Baggs trick and get up from a cruch position I can also do a full lotus although I ve never practised yoga just something I ve always been able to do and still can in my 70 s and with osteoporosis amaze myself actually ?

If this is the sitting cross legged and getting up test, I read/heard that is potentially very harmful, as it puts too much strain on joints. They are not in a natural position to be doing what's being asked of them!

Alima I hesitate to say it but wanting oomph is sadly not the way to maintain strength in the body as you get older unless you are very unusual. Slow exercise is a form of mindfulness with the right teacher which is why I suggested tai chi, probably ballet would offer something similar. Perhaps other kinds of dance but not my field.

The point is that nothing is instantly doable, the Times crossword or sit to rise. Actually just getting up from an armchair without using your arms to push yourself up is a beginning. Leg strength and core strength are the key to remaining strong in old age but as it shows in the programme you have to allocate time and perhaps have some guidance. The gym and some coaching is is a good idea. I go to the gym three times a week and do an hour's hard cardiovascular on the cross trainer and recumbent bike. I work to my heart rate, get slightly out of breath and I do sweat, plenty of oomph, and not only have my knees stopped aching but I can walk fast uphill without puffing. There's always room to improve but not if you don't try.

Hmm right now on holiday my back is playing up something dreadful so I am not going to try that particular manoeuvre.
Not many of the situations in that program actually made any allowances for physical problems such as arthritis. My current mobility difficulties and pain are down to the effect of a long standing injury.
I missed the begining of this series so I don't quite know what the starting point of health and mobility was for the initial cohort.

I'm relieved to read that I'm not the only one who can't do this easily. I find yoga helps with core strength and mindfulness. I know that's become a buzz word but it helps as we grow older to focus on movement and do it mindfully. Helps prevent falls, I read somewhere. So I shall carry on carrying on.

I can do it but I've done Pilates for ages and the teacher showed us how to do it using weights and then without. I would recommend Pilates to anyone as it builds core strength and if you can't do certain exercises a good teacher will show you alternatives.

Azie - you said you work to your heart rate - do you mean 60% of capacity or 80%? And...do you do and hour without stopping??

I'm pushing myself hard to do 4 1/2 km in 45 mins or thereabouts. That means, for me, very fast walking. I don't jog or run because, with a weak pelvic floor, I don't think it's wise - I've read that running and jogging should be avoided if the PF is dodgy and I don't want even more problems. So very brisk walking is fine for me. What I don't know is if that constitutes moderate or vigorous exercise! Anyone any idea?

I do Pilates and Tai Chi. From flat on the floor I can get up and stand up without using my hands. That is enough for me.

Rowantree I meant that I work to the maximum heart rate for my age, 220-age but there are more accurate ways of measuring, lots of links, this is one www.lifespanfitness.com/fitness/resources/target-heart-rate-calculator?___store=default which seems to accord with the one on the gym wall. I find I catch colds and viruses if I do more. I do 70/80% now. I read it from the machine which may not be totally accurate.

I do now do an hour non stop but it took about six months to be able to do that. I was not aerobically fit when I started so I used to do 15 minutes on the treadmill, 15 on the cross trainer and 15 on the bike but with a break in between. I fast walk on the treadmill, often at an incline. I think your speed counts as vigorous. I can't remember the speed i go exactly but I am on the edge of being out of breath.

I would love to be able to run but I've got a niggly knee that doesn't like it and it also bothers a disc in my spine sometimes so sadly no running. I think it's very hard on the joints. I always listen to how my body feels (tai chi is good for that) and stop early that day if I just can't do it. I listen to music and podcasts to pass the time.

I did tai chi for 15 years but although my balance is excellent, lower leg strength and niggling old injuries have meant that it has been less useful in maintaining strength as I've got older. I can see the gym is a permanent part of life now but I've seen such steady improvement that I don't mind. I find the fact that the machines allow you to measure what you're doing stops you cheating and provides an incentive. Our gym is quite chatty too.

P.s. love your username, we have a big rowantree outside of our house. It's full of beautiful red berries at the moment. ?

To the original question and OP, we all usually do their best but for myself long term muscle wastage at a youngish age has affected me and my core strength.
Add to this back disc problems, which I am seeing an osteopath weekly for at the moment, is a barrier to performing better in this test.

But hopefully onwards and up wards..