Optimal procedure and characteristics in using five times sit to stand test among older adults: A systematic review

Falls are a major concern for people of all ages, especially older adults with declining physical functions and deteriorating muscle strength. The Five Times Sit to Stand Test is used for the assessment of lower limb strength along with balance and postural control. Therefore, the systematic review at hand aimed to determine the optimal procedure and characteristics among older adults.

The following databases served as the primary sources through which the target studies were searched for and obtained for review. They included Google Scholar, Pedro, BIOMED Central, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PUBMED and Science DIRECT. With the aim of fulfilling the eligibility criteria, 16 full-text studies were included and the quality assessment was performed. using the Thomas Tool.

The total number of the subjects who participated in the included studies was 15,130 and the ages of the aforementioned participants ranged from 60 to 80 years. In 15 of the studies, a stopwatch was used as the scoring method where the mean chair height of 42 cm was reported. Two studies reported that no significant influence of the arm position (P = .096) on the time allocated for test completion was identified. However, posterior foot placement (P < .001) led to shorter times of completion. Individuals who are unable to complete the test are more susceptible to activities of daily living related disabilities (P < .01) when compared to fall risk (P = .09).

The Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test is a safe test, providing added value to apply risk for falls in people at moderate risk and in healthy populations using standardized chair heights and stopwatches.