3 Tests for Longevity: How Healthy Are You?

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We all want to live a long and healthy life... but how do we know if we are likely to get there? In this episode, Farnham's leading over-50's physiotherapist, Will Harlow, shares 3 simple home tests for longevity!

[MaluMesq]

Spot on. I' m 70, I have been doing some of your exercises and they are wonderful. I' m independent, mobile, going on a solo trip to Italy next Tuesday. Thanks for sharing your expertise in the videos.

[petermartin]

I am 100 years old and I was fine until about nine months ago still taking my dog out for walks twice a day when taking the rubbish out to the bin I had a fail I managed to crawl back in doors I later had another fail indoors since then I have suffered with back pain although while not gone completely this is much better as I have been using a TENs machine I now have to walk with a stick and I cannot walk far but with scooter i cope
I have been unable to get any help from my GP if they cannot see it they do not believe it I have bought your book which I have found to be very helpful sorry to have gone like this but it helped to get it of my chest

[howellwong]

I probably would fail all 3 tests. I'm 91 years old and on my stationary bike an hour each day, I do arm and neck exercises in the first 15 minutes. My main aim is to exercise my heart.

[kelvinwood]

I passed all comfortably.
And I have Parkinson’s.
Thanks for the challenge.
It’s all about feeling good about yourself, no matter what ever problems you have 😊

[resistancepilatchi]

Will, these videos are fantastic and I’m so pleased to see the next generation of physios, really educating all of us in a simple manner. As a fellow physio over 60.. I say “Brilliant, keep it going!” Sean

[trilbyarnold]

Frmale, age 82. 68secs holding 11.5lbs. 37 secs BOLT, 90 secs static one-legged stand. 2 years ago I broke my hip and had a partial hip replacement. one year ago I slipped on ice hiking in the mountains and badly sprained hip abductors and tendons, just now recovered to 95% I have spondylolisthesis grade 1 anterior and posterior in lumbar, facet joint arthropathy and degenerated disks . My oxygen intake is 97 to 100, I'm never breathless doing exercises that my PT says leaves most people breathless. I had to stop BOLT test due to increasing pain in my spine standing with weight compressing it. I was very fit when I broke the hip (backpacked high elevation trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains solo.) I've worked diligently to regain the fitness, landscaping my yard, doing PT exercises faithfully strengthening the entire core.

[patricialyons]

Brilliant as usual. I’m 74 and only realised a few days ago I actually couldn’t close my hands properly into a grip. I’ve exercised them daily and now can’t tighten my fist normally. Todays advice on longevity is very revealing thank you Will. As usual you are a delight to listen to. Well done. Patricia

[Syl-Vee]

Yay you cheered me up -- I'm 68 and regularly stand on one leg, each side for up to 2 minutes. Thanks for providing useful tests that we can check at home.

[thefilipinojoe]

I thought the whole time watching this… people should be working out every day so that they can pass all of these tests without a problem. It kind of reminds me of this old lady who couldn’t carry her groceries anymore so she started lifting weights. She discovered that she enjoyed working out so much that she started putting on muscle. Long story short, she became a competitive bodybuilder. I love that story, and after watching your video, I realized she probably added many more years to her life.

[richardbrown]

It makes me wonder if longevity is a lot to do with our luck in this life. My grandmother lived the good life lots of partying on cruise ships 🎉, smoked 20 cigarettes a day, drank whatever she liked most days, enjoyed all foods with no restrictions, worked hard all her life .Life is sweet at any age was her belief, she lived until 97 yrs. A very positive lady in every way. Makes you wonder doesn’t it. ❤

[faithg]

Your videos are always positive, full of things you can do to make life better.

[finleykim]

I love your tips and recommendations and find them immensely helpful! Thank you.

[GymGarageMan]

Was called too old at 50! Started training in crumbling garage lifting rocks doing PUSH UPS on paint cans pull UPS on beams got ripped af at 52 years old!!!

[hmmm..]

I’ve started doing dead hangs at the gym. The first time I did 25 seconds. I’m up to 45 seconds now, after practicing a couple times a week for about 3 weeks. I’ve been practicing standing on one foot for a few months while I brush my teeth. The electric toothbrush is timed so I know when I’ve done 30 seconds, one minute etc. I’ve noticed it’s much easier if I don’t move my head and keep my eyes on the same spot, so lately I’ve been moving my head and eyes to make it more challenging. Thank you for your time and expertise! I’m a 65 year old F and want the next decades to be filled with fun and interesting experiences and activities. I know I have to work hard to make it happen.

[catharinavolker]

I am a 71.5 years old female, live in South Africa and regularly hike in the Drakensberg . 4 minutes per arm holding 9 lb leg weights. Bolt nearly 40 seconds, not very happy with that have to work on it. And 4 minutes per leg ( one -legged stand). Thank you very much for the good tips Doctor.

[johnconcannon]

If a grip is a proxy for overall strength, which correlates with longevity. Then doing grip exercises may not be of much use, because it's not increasing all over body strength. It's like saying strong arms correlates with overall strength which correlates with longevity, therefore doing bicep curls will make you live longer. No it's overall strength. Amazing how no one sees this.

[yebeams]

I've got a theory about grip exercises - on my allotment there are vital people in their 80s and 90s who are highly active. We all do a fair amount of digging and moving but its the weeding that improves my grip strength. I have to weed on a regular basis on a fairly large allotment that involves pinching and pulling out stubborn weeds sometimes for hours on end. So it's not grip exercises per se but an overall workout that comes with running a busy allotment. Carrying, digging, chopping, squatting, weeding. At the start of a growing season I see it as a PITA but my body tells me otherwise when I'm into a regular regime. I do supplement this with weights.

[sarahrosen]

As a lifelong asthma sufferer, anything to do with oxygen scarcity is going to be stressful. I could not have passed holding my breath for 5 seconds even as a child. I’ve been working for several years on square breathing and 4 seconds on the exhale hold was a real accomplishment. Sometimes I can get to 6 seconds. On the other hand, my morning starts with a climb of 7 flights of steps straight up a mountain to walk my granddaughter to kindergarten.

[Ed-hzum]

Just viewed this today and found it most helpful. No long wordy build up, just cut to the facts. I was a competitive triathlete for decades, but gave it up in my late 60's. Now, at age 85, I find that I can no longer run even 100 meters, not swim the length of a pool. It seems that a lot of my muscle mass has vanished. I also failed your balance test in this video, although I did pass (barely) the other two tests. I just started doing treadmill walks up to 3 miles/day. I'd love to do these outdoors, but the snow and frigid temps here prevent that. I'm subscribed now and will check out your other videos. Maybe I can improve somewhat.

[baethie]

Excellent, thank you very much ! Now I'm able to test myself and get more motivated to exercise !