How long can you stand on one leg?
Before it was paywalled the detailed British Medical Journal article was there in full for everybody to read. More importantly, it showed you the correct photograph. Many resources online will talk about balance and incorrectly illustrate it with the Vriksasana yoga pose.
These photos show you the wrong and the right way to do a balance test.
Lift one foot a little, and use the toes of that foot to “wrap” it around the calf of the other leg, just above the ankle. It doesn’t matter where your arms and hands are. I try to keep mine down by my sides, and I move them a little to help keep my balance.
The ability to stand on one leg depends not just on balance, but also on your age and your muscle strength. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy gave me the following summary when I worked at the BMA years ago.
Balance with eyes open:
• Under 40 ➞ 45 seconds
• Aged 40-49 ➞ 42 seconds
• Aged 50-59 ➞ 41 seconds
• Aged 60-69 ➞ 32 seconds
• Aged 70-79 ➞ 22 seconds
Balance with eyes closed:
• Under 40 ➞ 15 seconds
• Aged 40-49 ➞ 13 seconds
• Aged 50-59 ➞ 8 seconds
• Aged 60-69 ➞ 4 seconds
• Aged 70-79 ➞ 3 seconds
How’s your performance? Mine is fair to middling!