How long you might live could hinge on something as simple as getting up from the floor—without using your hands or knees. 

In a study tracking over 4,000 adults for 12 years, researchers in Brazil found that a low-tech test of balance, strength, and flexibility—the sitting-rising test—could predict longevity better than you might think.  Published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the study revealed that people who aced the test were far more likely to still be alive a decade later! 

The test scores dropped if participants leaned on their elbows or knees or wobbled during the move. Surprisingly, even among people with heart disease, those who scored low were more likely to have died during the follow-up. Scientists say it’s not just cardio health that counts—muscle strength, coordination, and mobility play a huge role in aging well, and the good news is you can train to improve all of them!