ACTIVATE YOUR AGE
TM
MOVEMENT-BASED
LONGEVITY TESTING
Longevity testing is all about learning how to live a longer, stronger, and healthier life. But not all longevity tests are the same.
Some longevity testing is based on blood tests that tell you about your body on the inside. This can be vital information, but it's only one side of the coin.
Longevity Testing at the El Segundo-based Movement Performance Institute is different. Our Activate Your Age test measures how your body moves and performs on the outside — physical factors that predict functional independence and lifespan.
THE MPI WAY
Developed by USC professors Dr. Chrstopher Powers and Dr. Todd Schroeder, along with NASM-certified personal trainer and senior fitness specialist Jeff Stepp, our test uses a science-driven, movement-based series of strength, cardio, mobility, balance, and reaction-time assessments designed to help you move better, live stronger, and age with confidence. Grounded in decades of clinical research and biomechanical expertise, this innovative evaluation identifies the key physical factors that influence long-term health, resilience, and independence.
In just two hours, you'll understand where you stand compared to others your age and gain personalized insight into what areas matter most for reducing fall risk, improving daily living, and extending your healthspan so you can continue doing the things you love for years to come.
THE SIX ASSESSMENTS
Gait
Gait is a fancy word for the way we walk, and it's affected by everything from genetics to injury history to current muscular function. Research shows that every 0.1m/s increase in gait speed equals a 12% decrease in overall mortality risk — making it one of the most powerful longevity predictors we have.
Balance
Balance affects nearly everything we do in life, from standing, bending, walking, and reaching. Poor balance is the #1 cause of injury-related death in adults over 65, so measuring and improving it is one of the highest-impact things you can do for long-term independence.
Strength
Strength is more than just lifting weights. Our muscles hold up our bodies and allow us to move through space — and they decline at roughly 3–8% per decade after age 30, accelerating after 60. Low muscle mass (sarcopenia) is independently associated with increased mortality risk, but the decline can be significantly slowed with targeted training.
Cardio Capacity
Cardio capacity — measured as VO2max — is the single strongest predictor of all-cause mortality in otherwise healthy adults. Research shows that each 1-MET improvement in fitness is associated with a 10–13% reduction in mortality risk. You don't need to be a runner to benefit; even modest improvements from a low baseline produce dramatic longevity gains.
Body Composition
The key to a long and healthy life is more than just a number on a scale. What matters is the ratio of muscle to fat — and specifically, low muscle mass relative to body weight (low ALMI) is strongly associated with metabolic disease, frailty, and reduced lifespan in older adults. Tracking it over time gives you a far more actionable picture than weight alone.
Reaction Time
How fast we react to stimuli is one of the strongest predictors of cognitive aging and fall risk. Slower reaction time in midlife has been linked in large population studies to higher dementia risk decades later. Establishing a baseline now gives us a target to train toward — and a way to track whether your brain is staying sharp over time.
WHAT IS THE TEST LIKE?
During your two-hour session, we will assess your abilities through several different testing protocols. All are non-invasive and are closely monitored to ensure they are pain-free and appropriately challenging for your fitness and mobility level. You will have plenty of time to rest and re-hydrate if necessary between tests.
Our movement tests involve short (~30s) bouts of walking on a state-of-the-art h/p/cosmos treadmill utilizing Zebris software to analyze gait and balance.
Body composition measurements are made using a painless, electrical InBody device. Please inform us if you have an electrical device implant like a pacemaker or an LVAD.
To measure reaction time, you will be asked to perform an upper-body reaction test on our SmartFit wall while standing as well as a similar test that involves stepping from one foot to another using Blaze Pods.
The strength portion of our tests involve isometric exercise of the hips, glutes, and quadriceps, performed in both seated and prone positions using our top-end HUMAC NORM extremity testing system.
Cardio capacity is evaluated by progressing from a walk to a jog on a treadmill for about 5-10 minutes, and your oxygen/CO2 levels are analyzed via a lab-grade Parvomedics VO2Max device. You will be monitored at all times and will not be pushed to exert more effort than you are comfortable with.
TESTIMONIALS
Greg. M, 57 Years Old
Philip H., 77 Years Old
"I think movement-based longevity testing is something that everyone should do. How else are you going to know where you stand? It amazes me what Dr. Powers and the staff here have managed to do."
"I am very impressed with your program. Jeff and Jake are great, very knowlegeable and engaging. It is inspiring to see people so engaged and passionate about their work."
LOCATION AND FACILITY
All longevity testing is performed in-house at the Movement Performance Institute in El Segundo, CA (just minutes from LAX and the greater Los Angeles area). Unlike big-box gyms, MPI is a doctor-led physical therapy and return-to-sport clinic that hosts only a few sessions at a time, ensuring individualized attention and unmatched privacy.
Movement Performance Institute - Los Angeles
2101 E. El Segundo Blvd. Suite 101
El Segundo, CA 90245
