The relationship between ground reaction force in sit-to-stand movement and lower extremity function in community-dwelling Japanese older adults using long-term care insurance services.
Shaoshuai Shen, Takumi Abe, Taishi Tsuji and 3 others
PMID 28931988WHAT IT FOUND
Letting frail older adults place their hands on the chair seat during sit-to-stand allowed 52 of 53 to complete the test, compared with 39 of 53 when arms were crossed.
Ground reaction force measures from this method correlated with walking and balance speed, offering a feasible single-repetition assessment.
Key findings
01The hands-on-chair method had a significantly higher achievement rate (98.1%) than arms-over-chest (73.6%), hands-on-knees (81.1%), or hands-on-desk (83.0%).
02In men, chair-rise time and force development parameters correlated significantly with Timed Up and Go and 5-meter walk speeds (r=0.45–0.81).
03In women, only the force development parameters correlated significantly with Timed Up and Go and 5-meter walk speeds (r=0.40–0.48).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it shows association but not prediction of future function or falls. Participants came from a single outpatient care facility, which may limit generalisability. The sample size was relatively small (n=52). Associations were examined with physical performance tests, but links to actual mobility limitations or fall history were not analysed.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these force measurements predict falls or future disability. The study only showed correlations with current walking and balance speed in a cross-sectional design, not with actual clinical outcomes like falls.