Reference values for the 1-minute sit-to-stand and 5 times sit-to-stand tests to assess functional capacity: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To establish age-specific and sex-specific reference values and equations for the 1-minute sit-to-stand (1MSTS) and 5 times sit-to-stand (5TSTS) tests for Portuguese adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Descriptive statistics were explored to compute reference values and reference equations were established with a forward stepwise multiple regression.

Setting: Community.

Participants: 546 adult volunteers without disabilities [age range 18 to 95 years; 58% female] were recruited.

Main outcome measures: Data on age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), smoking status and physical activity were collected using a structured questionnaire developed specifically for this study.

Procedure: Participants performed three repetitions of the 1MSTS and 5TSTS and the best repetition was used for analysis.

Results: Normative values were provided by sex for each age decade. Reference equations were: 1MSTS= 61.53 - (0.34 x age) - (3.57 x sex) - (0.33 x BMI), r² = 26%; and 5TSTS= 3.89 + (0.10 x age) - (0.96 x physical activity), r² = 27%.

Conclusions: The proposed reference values and equations will help to interpret the results of functional capacity obtained from healthy or diseased adult populations. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER.

Keywords: 1-minute sit-to-stand test; 5-times sit-to-stand test; Functional capacity; Interpretability; Reference values.