Relationship between sit-to-stand movements and physical function in healthy older adults: Testing duration power and...

Standard assessment of physical function commonly involves evaluation of gait speed, balance, duration of repetitive sit-to-stand movements using the 5-times chair-rise test (CRT-5), and handgrip strength (HGS). However, reports involving longer versions of stand-alone sit-to-stand tests to evaluate functional fitness in older adults are hard to find in literature.

To investigate the strength of within-group relationships between duration, power and velocity using a 30-s chair-rise test (CRT-30) and physical performance, and to assess between-group differences in these relationships, in a large cohort of older adults.

Study participants (n = 73; age-range: 28-93 years; females: 50 males: 23) performed a longer protocol (CRT-30) at maximum voluntary speed. Chair-rise power (CRP), sit-to-stand (concentric) and stand-to-sit (eccentric) velocities were measured during trials. Anthropometric, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and HGS data collected with CRT-30 variables were analyzed in participants divided into three subsets (<50, 50-70 & >70 years).

Between-group differences significantly varied between CRT-30 measurements. CRT-30 duration, power and velocities demonstrated strong within-group correlations with SPPB and HGS measures, especially in the >70-year age-group (p < 0.01). CRT-30 and physical performance variables also showed significant between-group differences, especially for the >70 years age group.

CRT variables such as duration, power, sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit velocities exhibit stronger relationships with markers of physical function, especially in older adults.