Rising from a chair is an important tool for independent living

1. The power thresholds to complete the sit to stand test differ for men and women and increase linearly with height.

2. Participants who did not meet the power threshold for the sit to stand test had greater disability in activities of daily living.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Being able to rise from a chair unassisted is one of the most important requirements for independent living. The sit-to-stand (STS) test is often used as a tool to assess a patient’s ability to do accomplish this. Currently, no previous study has identified the minimum levels of relative power needed to rise from a chair. Consequently, the present study sought to identify this threshold in older adults. Furthermore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of mobility limitations and disability in activities of daily living in older people who have relative muscle power below the minimal thresholds.

The present retrospective analysis included 5 European cohorts (11 583 participants, age range 60-103 years). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were further described for each cohort. Four cohorts measured STS performance using the 30-second STS test whereas one used the 5-rep STS test. Muscle power was assessed by means of the STS muscle power test.

Results showed that the minimal threshold of relative muscle power to complete 5 STS repetitions were 1.1 and 1.0 Watts/kg for older men and women respectively. The threshold to complete one STS repetition was 0.3 Watts/kg in both sexes. Furthermore, all participants with relative power below the 5-rep threshold had mobility limitations and a large proportion showed disability in activities of daily living. However, this study was limited by the use of a standardized chair height (0.43-0.45m) which may have influenced the threshold of relative muscle power. Nonetheless, this study provided strong evidence in support of the prevention of mobility limitations in older people through muscle strengthening above the minimum power threshold.

Click to read the study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Image: PD

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