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Can You Sit Down and Stand Up Without Using Your Hands? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 16, 2026 · 21 MIN

Can You Sit Down and Stand Up Without Using Your Hands?

from The Habit Healers · host Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA

Can you sit down on the floor and stand back up without using your hands? That simple move, called the sitting-rising test, may predict how long you’ll live better than most of what shows up on your annual bloodwork. And almost no doctor is measuring it. In this episode, I walk you through the science behind one of the most fascinating longevity tests I’ve come across, developed by an exercise medicine researcher in Rio de Janeiro and now backed by more than 25 years of data. We talk about why your body works like a load-bearing structure, how it can weaken from the inside while your labs and your weight look perfectly fine, and why the floor asks every system, strength, power, balance, flexibility, and body composition, to show up at the same time. I’ll also cover the 10-second one-legged balance test and what a low score really tells you about fall risk and healthy aging. Then I give you a specific, targeted plan to improve your score, matched to whichever weakness cost you points, so you’re not just told to “exercise more.” What you’ll learn in this episode: * How the sitting-rising test works and how to score yourself at home * Why each one-point improvement is linked to a meaningful drop in mortality risk * What the 10-second one-legged stand reveals about your balance and longevity * The four common reasons people lose points and how to fix each one * Simple strength, mobility, balance, and flexibility exercises that need no equipment * How to build a safety margin that protects your independence as you age Dr. Marbas Substack Article: https://drlauriemarbas.substack.com/p/can-you-sit-down-and-stand-up-without Check out the Habit Healers Community: https://www.skool.com/habithealers/about Get full access to The Habit Healers at drlauriemarbas.substack.com/subscribe

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 16, 2026

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Can You Sit Down and Stand Up Without Using Your Hands?

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