The “Chair Test” Every Woman Over 50 Should Try

Updated: July 15, 2026

squat exercise

Build stronger hips, steadier legs, and better balance with this simple exercise you can do at home.

How easily can you stand up from a chair?

It sounds like a small thing.

But the ability to sit down and stand back up is one of the most important signs of lower-body strength, balance, and independence as we age.

And it matters more than most people realize.

That’s because the same muscles that help you rise from a chair also help support your hips, one of the most common sites for osteoporotic fractures.

And that’s why the squat is so important.

It trains the exact movement you use every day: sitting down, standing up, and steadying yourself.

And when you add weight, the benefits become even more powerful…

That’s because weighted squats help build strength in your hips and legs, improve stability, and create the mechanical tension your bones need to stay strong.

And don’t worry. This isn’t about lifting like a bodybuilder or forcing yourself through an advanced workout.

Click below and let Dr. Emma Gasinski, DPT show you how to do the weighted squat safely, step by step.

Inside this exercise class:

  • The everyday movement that may tell you more about your future independence than your age ever will.
  • The common squat mistake that can wreck your knees… once you see it, it’s easy to avoid.
  • The surprising thing Dr. Emma does with her hands during a squat to help activate more of the muscles that support her hips. It looks backwards… but it works.
  • Can’t do squats? Don’t worry, Dr. Emma shows you exactly what to do instead.
  • The common household item that can make squats easier, safer, and more effective — you probably already have one.
  • The one exercise Dr. Emma would choose if she could only teach a single movement for maintaining strength, balance, and independence.
  • And much more…

These aren’t complicated gym moves. They’re practical, everyday strength exercises designed to help you stand taller, move steadier, and feel more confident in your body.

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This article features advice based on cutting-edge research from our industry experts to give you the best possible information to support your bone-building journey.

Lara Pizzorno
MDiv, MA, LMT - Best-selling author of Healthy Bones Healthy You! and Your Bones; Editor of Longevity Medicine Review, and Senior Medical Editor for Integrative Medicine Advisors.,
Dr. Liz Lipski
PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMP, BCHN, LDN - Professor and Director of Academic Development, Nutrition programs in Clinical Nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health.,
Dr. Emma Gasinski
PT, DPT, RYT - Physical therapist and certified yoga teacher with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals,
Dr. Lawrence (Larry) A. May
MD, FACP, Harvard Medical School Graduate, Physician, Author, Public Speaker - Doctor of Internal Medicine at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center and author of several articles and books, including the widely utilized and best selling medical textbook Primary Care Medicine,