Research

Mixed

Lower levels of objectively measured physical capability (grip strength, walking speed, chair rising, and standing balance) are associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in community-dwelling populations.

Use simple physical tests like grip strength, walking speed, or how quickly you can rise from a chair as early warning signs for your long-term health. If your performance in these areas is declining, it may signal a higher risk of mortality, prompting you to consult a healthcare provider for targeted interventions like strength training or lifestyle adjustments.

WeakSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
consistent evidence was found of associations between all four measures of physical capability and mortality; those people who performed less well in these tests were found to be at higher risk of all cause mortality.
Rachel Cooper et al. · BMJ · 2010

Why this rating

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 25+ studies with large participant numbers (e.g., 53,476 for grip strength), providing high-quality evidence.

Source

Objectively measured physical capability levels and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis

Rachel Cooper et al. · BMJ · 2010

DOI 10.1136/bmj.c4467

Meta-analysis · 28 studiesCited 1,151×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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