Effectiveness of Sit-to-stand Tests for Evaluating Physical Functioning and Fall Risk in Community-dwelling Elderly

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of sit-to-stand (STS) tests for evaluating physical functioning and fall risk in community-dwelling elderly. 157 healthy elderly females living in the community who could stand without support (age, 76.1 ± 5.8 years, 63-87 years; height, 147.2 ± 5.9 cm; body mass, 49.2 ± 7.3 kg) participated in the following three STS tests: the five-repetition STS time (5RST) with maximal effort; ground reaction force (maximal rate of ground reaction force development; RFD) during single STS with maximum effort; and peak and mean center of gravity transferring velocity (CGTp and CGTm, respectively) during single STS with maximum effort. All subjects could perform the both single tests (RFD, CGTp, and CGTm), but 18 subjects could not perform the 5RST. The odds ratio (OR) for fall experience was not significant for any of the STS tests (OR = 1.00-1.01, p > 0.425). Significant ORs were observed for fall risk in 5RST (OR = 1.03, p < 0.001) and for activities of daily living score in 5RST and RFD (OR = 1.03 and 1.02, respectively; p = 0.001 and 0.046, respectively). In conclusion, the 5RST with a relatively high degree of difficulty may be necessary to evaluate fall and primary nursing care risks in the elderly with high physical function who live independently in the community. However, repetition number may be required to adjust to evaluate fall and primary nursing care risk of the elderly with inferior physical fitness.