Here’s a quick measure of your every day health that Reader’s Digest refers to as "secret fitness tests." Number one is the toe touch: Can you put fingers to toes without bending your knees?
“This is a great test of hamstring flexibility,” said personal trainer Alta Acosta-Carter. Having trouble can indicate arterial stiffness, a precursor to heart disease.
Test two is the leg kick: Can you raise your foot as high as your hip?
“This is a strength test of the upper thigh, core and hip flexor,” Acosta-Carter said.
Test three is the twist: Can you turn and look behind without moving your feet?
Having trouble might indicate you’re headed for back trouble.
Test four can be tough if you’re raising children or working long hours: Do you feel energized 14 hours after getting up in the morning?
If you rise at 7 a.m., you should still be ready to move at 9 p.m. Reader’s Digest points to numerous studies that say exercise will give you more energy throughout the day.
Test six is the 10-minute challenge: Can you move vigorously for 10 minutes?
If you have a well-controlled heart rate, jumping in place or dancing for that amount of time would mean your pulse won’t race.
Test 7 involves a laundry basket: Can you carry a full laundry basket up and down two flights of stairs and maintain your balance and endurance?
If you can’t, you need to work more stair climbing into your day.
At Legacy Medical Group, Dr. Stephanie Anderson says the results can be a conversation starter with your doctor.
“If you don’t do well in one area it’s a good idea to find out if you can be doing something more,” she said
She recommends 30 to 40 minutes of exercise three times a week to help improve your results but says you need to consult your physician for specifics.
“The gold standard has always been to test patients in a controlled environment and then be able to tell them where to go from there,” Dr. Anderson concluded.
