Frequency of the sit to stand task: An observational study of free-living adults

The sit to stand movement is a key determinant of functional independence. Knowledge of the frequency with which the sit to stand movement is performed throughout the day could inform workplace ergonomics, but has rarely been examined. Healthy adults (n=140) were recruited from the general population. Free-living activity for each participant was reported using an activity monitor. On average, participants performed 60 (+/-22) sit to stand movements each day. Participants in indoor sedentary occupations performed significantly more sit to stand movements per day than participants in outdoor active occupations (66 vs. 54; n=102; p=0.003). Participants (n=33) performed significantly more sit to stand movements on working days than on non-working days (65 vs. 55; p=0.018). This analysis provides contemporary data for sit to stand frequency in a predominantly working population, and demonstrates that work and employment have a significant effect on that frequency.