Single-leg balance test: normal times by age
The single-leg balance test times how long you can stand on one foot with your eyes open. On average, adults 60 to 69 can hold it for about 27 seconds, adults 70 to 79 for about 17, and adults 80 and older for about 8.1 Holding for less than 5 seconds is a sign of higher risk of an injurious fall.2
Check your time
Enter your age and your best time on one leg. Your result appears below as soon as both are filled in. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Fill in your age and time to see how your balance compares.
How to do the test
You need a counter or sturdy chair to stand beside, a timer, and ideally a helper.
Step 1: Stand in socks or bare feet next to a kitchen counter or sturdy chair, close enough to grab it if you need to.
Step 2: Put your hands on your hips, or let them hover just above the counter. Keep your eyes open and look at a spot straight ahead.
Step 3: Lift one foot a few inches off the floor, without resting it against your other leg. Start the timer as soon as your foot leaves the floor.
Step 4: Stop the timer when your raised foot touches the floor or your standing leg, you grab the counter, or you reach [object Object] seconds.
Step 5: Rest, then try up to three times on each leg. Your best time is your score.
Safety first
- Always stand within reach of something sturdy, and have someone with you if you’ve had a fall.
- Clear the floor around you of rugs, cords and pets.
- If you can’t lift your foot without feeling unsafe, don’t push it. Record 0 seconds: that is a result worth discussing with your doctor or a physical therapist.
- Stop if you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Single-leg balance norms by age
These times come from a review that pooled studies of more than 1,800 healthy adults aged 60 to 99, tested with eyes open.1 The averages are similar for women and men. Below normal means under the lower limit of the review’s range for that age group; for adults 80 and older we use the 5-second fall-risk mark instead.2
| Age | Average | Below normal |
|---|---|---|
| 60–69 | about 27 seconds | under 20.4 seconds |
| 70–79 | about 17.2 seconds | under 11.6 seconds |
| 80–99 | about 8.5 seconds | under 5 seconds |
At any age, under 5 seconds is a sign of higher risk of an injurious fall.
What your result means
Below normal, or under 5 seconds
Your balance is weaker than most people your age, and very short times are linked to injurious falls.2 Balance responds to practice at any age. Tell your doctor about your result, and look for balance training built for older adults.
Normal or above average
Good news. Balance fades without practice, so a few short rounds of single-leg standing most days helps you keep it. Retest every few months so you notice any change early.
One test is a snapshot, not the whole picture. At a free TogetherWON consultation, a trainer looks at balance alongside strength, walking and endurance, then builds a plan around your goals.
Single-leg balance test questions
How long should a 70-year-old be able to stand on one leg?
About 17 seconds on average, with eyes open. For adults 70 to 79, a time under about 12 seconds is below normal.
For adults 60 to 69 the average is about 27 seconds, and for adults 80 and older it is about 8 seconds.
What does it mean if I can’t stand on one leg for 5 seconds?
In a study of more than 300 older adults followed for three years, people who couldn’t stand on one leg for [object Object] seconds were about twice as likely to have a fall that caused an injury.
It is not a diagnosis, but it is worth telling your doctor about, and it is a good reason to start balance training with support close by.
How fall prevention training worksWhich leg should I stand on?
Test both. Do up to three tries on each leg and keep your best time for each. A big difference between your two sides is worth working on, since a weaker side can affect walking and turning.
Why one side gets weakerHow can I improve my single-leg balance?
Practice standing on one leg at the kitchen counter, with a hand ready to hold on, for a few short rounds a day. Strengthening your hips and ankles helps too. Retest every four to eight weeks.
Read our balance exercises guideSources
- Bohannon RW. Single limb stance times: a descriptive meta-analysis of data from individuals at least 60 years of age. Top Geriatr Rehabil. 2006;22(1):70–77. View source
- Vellas BJ, Wayne SJ, Romero L, Baumgartner RN, Rubenstein LZ, Garry PJ. One-leg balance is an important predictor of injurious falls in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997;45(6):735–738. View source
This test is for education and self-tracking. It is not a medical diagnosis and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or physical therapist.
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