If you're over 60 can you

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Stand up from sitting on the floor without using hands/arms to push on anything else?

I've done it once ( not quite sure how ) but now can't do it again 😬

I'm 61 and trying to build a bit of strength

No chance of me doing it but MIL was able to do this in her eighties and even after a stroke.
The physios were astounded by her fitness which was mainly due to a lifetime of exercising. She still attended Pilates classes in her late seventies.

In my yoga class we do it from standing up first , crouch down onto one knee and then stand up again. Repeat on other side. 4 x a day to start with

I'm 71 and a 9/10. I can get down but have to put one hand down for balance as I get up but not pushing myself up if that makes sense. I've got an arthritic hip so don't think I'll do it again.

65, no problem at all. It’s an odd thing to use as a measure, because there are so many reasons why someone might find it difficult, not all of them health red flags.

I agree. I'm not over 60, but I'm not far off 60. I just sort of shift my legs sideways so my feet soles are facing the same way then up onto my knees and up to standing. I'm wiry though. If I suddenly put weight on it could be a bit more difficult 😂

Yes I can but I’m 54.

But this is the way I always do it! I'm 40! I also need to build strength & resistance

Bending knees and kneeling on the way up or using momentum is ok. That’s using your core strength to push up. You’re not expected to levitate!

My mum is 70 and does a fair amount of Pilates and swimming. She's broken her ankle twice in the last few years and one of the things that really sped up her recovery was her general level of fitness.

I don't think she could even get down on the floor let alone up again but from a chair she can stand up on one leg without using her arms and the physios were quite impressed.

I was talking to my physiotherapist about this only last week and he said that once you get to 60 you should get up from the floor unaided once every day. It doesn't matter if you have to use your arms to balance or push, the key thing for safety is not to have to rely on a convenient piece of furniture. That made a lot of sense to me.

I'm mid 70s and can do it from kneeling with no hands, and from a sort of sideways collapsed sit with one hand, but I don't have enough flexibility in my hips to sit cross legged in the first place, let alone get up that way. I'm happy enough with that.

I’ve never been able to cross my legs to sit properly on the floor so I’m not even trying that! If I get down on one knee I have to hold on to something or push myself up again. Never been flexible but now I’m losing strength. I’m very aware I should do something about it.

It's a screening test. It's easier for some people than others because of body shape. Generally being stronger is better than being weaker and so the easier it is to get off the floor the better but there is nothing magic about getting off the floor cross legged without using your hands. It isn't a skill you need to learn unlike sit to stand without using your hands and ability to carry heavy bags or small children - those are useful life and later-life skills.

I'm 66 and thanks to arthritis I can get up hands free, but need to get on my knees first.

I cycle and do pilates regularly.

Are you generally fit and healthy? Do you exercise or do a physical job? I am very agile and active but suffer constant aching joints!

I'm 61.

When I can be bothered to get off the sofa I will give it a go

I doubt I'll be able to do it as I have arthritic knees but in the interests of research for this thread I'll try. I'm 61, btw.

I can do this but only because I practice it every day. I couldn’t do it before that. I think it’s important to be able to do it in case you fall over (or have a fall as it’s called when you reach your 60’s) when you’re alone and break your arms or something. I do it as if I have fallen over, from lying down, then get up on one knee and push up on the other one. I’ve got arthritis in my knees so doing some strength training for my legs has obviously made them stronger.

It's easier for me at my age to have my phone on a lanyard/strap in case I fall and can't get back up. 😊Alexa can be summoned also.

Late 50s and I can't do it, but I am working on it. I think I have the strength but not the flexibility. My hips are very tight.

Yes, I’m 62.
key is engaging stomach muscles

62 and no because my hips and knees don’t work properly due to hypermobility. It’s not strength but the fact they no longer bend properly.

64 year old here, and I would do this by getting to kneeling and then high kneeling, and up from there. No hands needed. I do pilates every week, and its part of that!

64 and yes I can get off the floor with using hands or arm, but I started a sport 10 years ago, lost a couple of stone and do some gym as part of the sport, it's really helped my core strength

I am 62 and can do it with legs to the side, not from cross legged, but happy to be able to do that. Hubby is 66 and can do from cross legged.

I’ve heard this as well. And your upper leg strength as that’s what gets you out of your chair and on and off the loo independently.