GETTING OFF FLOOR WITH NO HANDS.

It's dependent on core strength and to a less extent flexibility. DH is in his mid 50s, healthy weight and fit, cycles and regularly runs a 5k, but is very inflexible and can't do it at all. I've always been able to do it but squat or sit on the floor all the time.

see post from Mt563 above: it's an indication of risk, not a goal itself or something that prevents ill health.

Layperson explanation.
You get points deducted for not doing it perfectly, but also, you need to do it both going down and getting up 'perfectly' to get the maximum score. Not just the gettting up part.

You can google sit-rise test or sitting-rising test

Isn't the point to not do it from kneeling either? If I am allowed to be on my knee at some point it's very easy. Otherwise I can't despite being able to squat a lot in the gym. I don't seem to be able to get my arse off the ground and to a squat position from sitting! Once in a squat I can chill there indefinitely.

Ah yes, I know what you're saying. However, at 68 I'm never going to try it as it's too risky for other injuries. I do however go from sit to stand without using armrests as a prop many times a day and that's a good sign of mobility when ageing. I also lift 3k dumbells every morning for as many as I can manage without keeling over, and walk at least 4-5k a day, and run up the stairs, I don't run down, that's too dangerous though ha ha!

I have an the usual fall alert on my phone anyway, and use a tiny backpack (little kids one oops) that I put my phone in when working in the garden, the crossover phone holders swing around and get in the bloody way. I did try those until they smacked me in the mush or dangled😊

I can do it easily enough from the 90 90 position but no way from cross legged, we are all different.

It's not the contortions and it's not actually the exercise itself that's useful as such, it's an indicator of your flexibility and core strength which are important for aging well. It's not suggesting you should regularly do this but if you're healthy, you should be able to and if you can't you may want to incorporate exercises and stretches to target them.

Actually, I've just checked and I can get up from the sit in the pic up thread, so long as I lever against my forward thigh with the same side hand. Don't ask me to sit in that position for more than the 3 seconds it takes to prove a point, though, or I would get stuck and probably swear a lot with the pain.

I can't even sit cross legged any more so won't try that one again.

What's the point of these contortions if you have working hands. Crazy instagram clips have people trying stuff out that can cause injury, then they'll never get up!

I agree, that's how I do it as well.

If you've got joint pain in your knees and hips so bad you can get up without using your hands (and you're not elderly) then I'd class that under some sort of disability!!

I'm visibly able bodied but I've never been able to do it. I'm hypermobile and my feet are too unstable to anchor myself. I can stand on one leg, even on the foot I mysteriously injured badly due to its instability, I can stand from a squat but I can't get off the floor without using my hands - often both hands because they have the strength of a rubber chicken.

How old are you?

what stretching/exercise do you do

have you ever had a knee/back injury?

Because core strength isn't a given.

neither is flexibility

joint pain in knees or hips is common & you don't need to be elderly or disabled to suffer from it.

It's important to be able to get up off the floor, it's very good to do it 'no hands' for as long as you possibly can.

there are other starting positions, try those.

I’m British and can stand up straight from a cross legged position with ease. If you’re fit and stretch you should be able to do it no matter your culture unless you have an injury/disability.

That’s great you find it easy. I can’t go from squat or cross legged to standing without using hands. And even using hands I don’t have enough core strength to do so.

I just tried. From lying to sitting then swing round into my knees, then lift one knee to put a foot on the floor and stand up.

I’m not trying to deliberately misunderstand here, but can’t every able-bodied person under 70 do this?

Is this something designed for older or more infirm people?

Pilates is brilliant for this sort of thing - it focuses on the exact muscles you need, which way to lean, etc. There are very precise ways to move to the floor, to get up that don’t strain your back. It also targets the hip flexors, balance, twitch muscle movement etc.

I'm struggling to understand why, unless someone is very infirm or disabled in some way they can't get up of the floor to standing not using hands!!!

From 90 90 you need to rock your weight forward over your front shin, using the back foot for balance and leverage, until your weight is above your knee and you can swing your foot round to a half kneeling position and stand from there. Hip flexibility is important - doing a figure 4 exercise can help develop this.

Being able to get up from the floor is important but it doesn't matter how you do it, different bodies will find different methods easier.

I can't see the point of this exercise. If you fall and are injured you're not going to be able to do it, and if you're not injured you won't need to do it! Waste of time and it's making people contort themselves unnecessarily IMV.

A better way to keep going when you're older like me is to be able to get up from a chair from sitting to standing without using armrests or arms to propel you up. Running up and down the stairs (safely) is another one I do, along with standing on one leg for some seconds - I know some can do it for ages, but it's good for balance. It's the little things when you're nearly 70 like me!

Walking downhill is better than up? I wonder why? I can’t do hills due to my heart. But can walk down hill.

I can’t get up off the floor from squat. I can squat quite low with feet flat on the floor. My mum still can but yes we are a culture that sits on the floor. I must’ve stopped once I left home. And lost the ability.

I had to give up Pilates when I needed a knee replacement. Too many of the exercises required some kneeling which I can’t do now. The best way to get up off the ground is the one that works for you. I find if I can get into a runner’s starting position I can walk myself up from there. I also find using a nearby handle or piece of furniture to start the journey helps, not so much to pull on but to help me find my centre of gravity so I’m more secure.

I’m rubbish at most thing, but this is one thing I am good at. I can get up without using hands from pretty much any position. The only one I can’t do is on one leg.

DH is much fitter than me and he can’t do it at all!