Age-Specific Normative Values for the Sitting-Rising Test in Brazilian Children and Adolescents

Functional assessment of children and adolescents is essential for monitoring motor development and for the prevention of deficits that may impact health and quality of life. In primary care contexts, the implementation of simple and cost-effective tests has been a pragmatic strategy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The sitting-rising test is noteworthy for its clinical and community relevance, although normative values for paediatric populations remain unavailable.

To establish reference values for the Sitting-rising Test in children and adolescents aged 5-14 years, to investigate the influence of body mass index on functional performance, and to compare results between sexes.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 596 schoolchildren (aged 5-14 years) assessed using the Sitting-rising Test and anthropometric measures. Reference values were defined by age-specific percentiles. The association between body mass index and performance was analysed using linear regression, and sex differences were tested with the chi-square test.

Sitting-rising Test performance was classified into three categories: below expected (≤ P10), adequate (> P10 and ≤ P90) and above expected (> P90). Body mass index accounted for 17.4% of the performance variation, indicating that greater body composition was associated with poorer test results. No significant sex differences were observed.

This study provides, for the first time, normative Sitting-rising Test values for children and adolescents aged 5-14 years. The findings highlight the SRT as a simple, low-cost and effective tool for early detection of functional deficits, especially in resource-limited settings.