Age-related differences in brain activity during physical and imagined sit-to-stand in healthy young and older adults.

The participants were healthy adults who could already stand up from sitting without impairment, so the results do not show what happens in patients with weakness, balance problems or neurological conditions. The sample was small, with 20 young adults and 19 older adults, and participants were recruited from a university and hospital area. Movement time was self-reported by pressing a timer when the participant felt the movement was complete, not measured independently. Physical sit-to-stand was always performed before imagined sit-to-stand, so the order of tasks may have affected the results. The authors note that working memory was not screened, even though imagining a movement depends on memory and attention. The authors note that muscle nerve impulses were not measured during imagined sit-to-stand, so the study cannot describe what happens in the muscles.

The research was supported by Naresuan University, and the authors declared no conflict of interest.

Do not conclude that imagined sit-to-stand improves sit-to-stand ability in patients. This study tested only healthy adults and measured timing and brain-wave patterns, not rehabilitation outcomes.