Can you stand up without using your hands?

[Emori]

I didn't use to be able to but I've been going to the gym for a year, doing a variety of strength, yoga, pilates and spin classes. And now I can do it!

I am mid fifties and feeling very pleased with myself.

Not a chance I'd be rolling around on the floor a week later trying to get up.

Can you share any of these videos?

Yes! I’m 59, saw this and immediately laid flat on the floor and crossed my arms. I managed fine, sat up, turned my knees to the side, then hit on my knees and up. Thank you for this though, it’s brightened my morning.

No, but then I never could because my knees are fucked. I can get up off the floor without hands, but not from crossed legged, my knees would dislocate 🤮 Kneeling has always been a challenge too, born with defective cartilage.

I have strong legs though, I can do all the balancing stuff, and regularly walk around on tip toes etc, and can hold up individual legs at right angles whilst standing on my tip ties Al la ballet style .... Does that count?

Yes! Often do this move whilst holding a trio of babies and toddlers. May need to deliberately continue for strength training purposes, but suspect doing it with teenagers will be harder.

I think OP means this method?

m.youtube.com/watch?v=q7RWL8d5QF4

Yes, every morning I roll poly down the stairs and at the bottom I get up without using my hands.

This is really interesting thank you for sharing @pinkpostitnote

I have been on Levothyroxine for 15 years and Liothyronine / Levo combo for 10 years. I only recently found out about the muscle wastage that’s linked to under / overactive thyroid
I was shocked - why did no one tell me this when I was diagnosed? Why did no one say that women like us must make more of an effort to maintain our muscles?

I saw my parents a few months ago and it was such a shock to the system that I decided to do something about it. They are only In the early 70s and you would think they were in their 90s.

My dad can barely walk, has had several falls and Is generally in a state. He could not get out of a chair without using his hands.

He has done no exercise since his early 30s and has been fat for most of his life at least until his mid 60s anyway

He lost weight to reverse his diabetes but didn’t start an exercise program or even walking. He drives every where now as he is scared of falling. Refuses a walker but a stick is not enough imo. My mum is more consciously active. After a few years break she is back to it thank goodness. Perhaps as a result of seeing the fast decline in my dad.

As a result of my trip, I have become interested in longevity And what it takes to have a good old age

My mantra this year has been
Stronger. Fitter. Leaner. Connected.

The last one is because studies show that more social people who are involved in the local community have a better old age

My parents barely see anyone And certainly haven’t had any close friends in the last few decades. No long term friends.

so. I’ve started to do weights. I’ve lost weight. & I’ve prioritised seeing friends more than I used to. I feel Much healthier .

now to get out of bed & try standing from the floor!!

I've just managed it keeping my legs crossed and standing up with crossed legs but it was more difficult than my normal method, which I do without thinking, because of the muscle effort needed - I'm not spectacularly muscular.

Method was -

• draw legs up keeping ankles crossed
• rock forward to put weight onto soles of feet
• keeping my weight forward, straighten knees
• stand and uncross ankles

Not from cross-legged, because I can't sit like that any more due to dodgy knees. I can get up without hands by putting my legs to one side and kneeling. I'm mid fifties, and as others have said, everything went to pot after menopause.

I wasn't expecting to be able to do it as I do no formal exercise except yoga for one hour a week. And I'm 49.

However, yes, I can do it. Crossed legged, straight up like a meerkat. Must be genetic.

I can do it without using my hands or knees, but instead of going from cross legged, I have to draw my legs up, knees together, and feet out, essentially forming and upside down v with my knees and ankles and then I can push myself up with my legs and hips. If that makes sense.

And yes, the cross legged way. To do it you need core strength, leg strength and hip mobility, apparently.

I agree with this and I think that you can usually improve all three of these, but crucially, you may not be able to improve them enough to do it this way. Hip mobility is limited by your basic bone structure, amongst other things, and you can't do anything about that.

What's important is to be able to get up unaided in a couple of different ways, in case you find yourself in a situation where for some reason you can't use your favourite way. And to exercise regularly so that you can at least hang on to what you've currently got.

I was listening to a podcast recently, I’ve forgotten which unfortunately, that was talking about ageing and muscle, and the key things I got from it were that if you are able to deadlift your own body weight, that’s an excellent predictor of improved functional longevity and mobility in the future. There was also similar chat about being able to get off the floor without using your hands.

I can do both with and without using knees but then I have very tight hips, despite all the yoga! I’ve never been able to make much headway on it.

It’s good to see people becoming more aware of the importance of building and retaining muscle into and post menopause. That kind of functional strength is very important, but I think a lot of people hear strength training and immediately thing bodybuilding and steroids!

I really struggle getting up off the floor (65) and I’d like to change that. I can get up off a chair and I do 12 of those every time I boil a kettle. But getting up off the floor is not a pretty sight. I’m about one stone overweight but that shouldn’t stop me.

I'm a regular floor-sitter and intend to keep being one!

I'm about a stone overweight - I think it's more about the flexibility of your joints than your weight, and using the muscles you need regularly. I don't do any gym exercise but as mentioned, I regularly sit on the floor (every time I go for a smoke by the back door, so several times a day when I'm not in the office, which will tell you in itself that I'm not exactly a health-freak 😆).

@Menopants How old are you? I tried this the other day and it was just impossible but I thought it might just be my age. Now a bit worried!

(Sorry captured wrong quote and usual way to try and get rid of it or delete original post didn't work)

@moppety what is being able to deadlift your own body weight? Basically do a chin up?

I actually started to detest these ‘indicator of health/longevity’ etc videos. I’ve seen them with: deadlifts, squats, deadhangs, calf strength, farmer’s walks, getting up the floor (although I agree this is v important to practice) etc. I feel like it’s putting too much pressure on people, disregarding health conditions, injuries and individual differences.
Well, it did for me and stopped watching them. ;-)

To answer the original question, 2 months ago I was able to, now I have some sort of an injury in my lower back and can’t at the moment.

Off the floor without hands - easy

Off the floor without hands, with legs crossed - harder but I can do it. I do have to rock back and forth once or twice and use the momentum, not sure if this is cheating

Another test is can you balance on one leg for 30 sec. On both sides - usually one is much easier. If that’s easy, try with your eyes closed. Much harder.

I could, even as a fatty but now I have psoriatic arthritis in my knee and it hurts too much

I'm 68, I can balance on one leg and put my socks and shoes on standing up.

I have both my arms/hands thankfully, so I've no intention of contorting myself to get up from the floor without using my hands, which I can do easily. I can get up from a chair no problem, (sofa or kitchen) with no "Ooofs" so that's a win!

I suppose it is a challenge or something for those far younger than me to prove their elasticity or something.

But I'm sure I will be told I need to firm up core, do yoga, and so on. Each to their own. I'm lucky I can get up from the floor at all unaided and am very grateful for that. 😊