These 2 quick tests can tell you if you’re as fit as an 80-year-old elite athlete

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new study of 4,659 senior athletes from the National Senior Games has redefined physical fitness benchmarks for older adults
• These competitors, aged 50 to over 90, demonstrated exceptional strength, cardiovascular health, and low prevalence of chronic illness
• The research introduced the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE), a new framework designed to assess fitness among competitive older adults

🔭 The context: Traditional fitness tests for older populations were found to be too easy for active seniors
• In response, researchers led by Becca D. Jordre at the University of South Dakota created SAFE to measure athletic capabilities across key domains like power, coordination, and flexibility
• The data, collected over a decade, forms the first comprehensive fitness standard tailored to older, competitive athletes

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Encouraging physical activity throughout life reduces healthcare demand and supports healthier aging, aligning with global sustainability goals for public health systems
• These findings challenge age-based limitations and offer a blueprint for reducing the burden of lifestyle-related diseases
• Promoting fitness into older age also supports social sustainability by fostering independence and community participation

⏭️ What's next: Two simplified SAFE tests — Five Times Sit to Stand and Maximal Walking Speed — have been adapted for home use to help the general public gauge their own fitness
• These tools are expected to inform personal health goals and encourage participation in strength and power training
• Researchers also emphasize that many senior athletes began training after retirement, making lifelong fitness more accessible than often perceived

💬 One quote: “If you want a strategy for healthy aging, look to these athletes,” said Becca D. Jordre, lead researcher and professor of physical therapy

📈 One stat: Only 1% of the nearly 4,700 senior athletes tested have earned a perfect score on the SAFE exam, highlighting the exceptional fitness levels among top-performing older adults

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