Relationships between different stand-up test and physical functions in community-dwelling elderly women

Abstract

To clarify simple methods to assess community-dwelling elderly femalesʼlower extremity functions, 154 elderly females leading an independent life in communities were assessed using the 30-second Chair Stand Test (CS-30) and 10-second Chair Stand Test for the Frail Elderly (Frail CS-10), and the correlations between scores from these tests and the upper/lower limb and trunk muscle strength, flexibility, and static/dynamic standing balance were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both CS-30 and Frail CS -10 scores are correlated independently with 3 parameters: the quadriceps femoris muscle strength, number of sit-ups, and TUG score. The results support the usefulness of CS-30 and Frail CS-10 as simple and convenient scales not requiring special devices to assess community-dwelling elderly femalesʼlower limb muscle strength and dynamic balance. Frail CS-10 was suggested to be particularly useful as a method to simply assess the lower extremity functions of such females, including those leading an independent life.