Five-repetition sit-to-stand test performance by
community-dwelling adults: A preliminary investigation of times, determinants,
and relationship with self-reported physical performance
Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, University of
Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA | [b] School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | [c] Department of Health Policy, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | [d] Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Services, Hamilton
Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr Richard W. Bohannon, Department
of Physical Therapy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2101, USA.
Tel.: +1 860 233 1033 (home phone), +1 860 486 0048 (office phone); Fax: +1 860
233 0609 (home fax), +1 860 486 1588 (office fax); E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The 5-repetition sit-to-stand (STS) test is a widely used, but
insufficiently evaluated, test for lower limb strength. We therefore described
STS test times for a sample of community-dwelling adults, examined the
association of age, gender, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) with STS
time, and determined the relationship of STS time with self-reported physical
functioning. Ninety-four community dwelling adults participated. Repeated
measures of STS time were reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.957).
The mean STS time for all 94 subjects was 7.6 seconds. Age, weight, and BMI
were (r=0.281–0.528), but gender and height were not
(r=−0.074–0.007), correlated significantly with STS time.
Regression analysis showed that age and BMI explained 43.7 percent of the
variance in STS time. The correlation between STS time and physical functioning
r=−0.474) was significant (p<0.001). Regression analysis showed that
age and BMI added slightly to the explanation of variance in physical
functioning provided by STS time. In conclusion, this study provides STS times that might be useful
for interpreting performance of adults screened with the test. Such performance
should be considered in light of age and BMI. The relationship of STS time with
physical functioning provides evidence of the validity of the measure.
