Single time sit-to-stand test: a practical screening tool to determine the need of a walking aid in older adults
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The Ministry of Public Health has distributed walking aids to promote independence and safety among older adults. However, there is currently no standardized and easily applicable screening method to identify the necessity of walking aids for this population. This gap may lead to unnecessary expenditure and increase the risk of adverse effects from the inappropriate use of walking aids.
Objective: To compare walking aid use, lower limb strength, balance, and walking ability between older adults who passed versus failed a single-time sit-to-stand test (STSST).
Methods: A total of 93 volunteers aged 60 years and older were divided into two groups based on their performance on the STSST: "pass" (without using hands) or "fail" (using hands or requiring external assistance). Participants were also interviewed and assessed walking aid use, musculoskeletal pain, and the ability to complete the five times sit-to-stand, timed up and go, and 10-meter walk tests. Independent t-test and chi-square tests were conducted to compare between groups.
Results: Among the 48 participants who passed the STSST, only one used a walking aid. Of the 45 participants who failed the test, 37 (82%) required walking aids. Participants in the “fail” group were significantly older and had more musculoskeletal pain and poorer mobility than those in the "pass" group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The STSST is a practical screening tool that can effectively identify the need for walking aids in older adults across various settings.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Bateni H, Maki BE. Assistive devices for balance and mobility: benefits, demands, and adverse consequences. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86(1):134-45.
Prapaipanich N, Luengaram J, Mokkasak P, Phiolueang I. A study of the impacts of aging society on gross domestic product growth in Thailand. Srinakharinwirot Research and Development Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 2022 ;14(28):28-43. (in Thai)
Provincial rehabilitation fund operation manual (according to the announcement of the national health security board on the criteria for the operation and management of provincial rehabilitation funds). National Health Security. Bangkok; 2019. (in Thai)
Jones A, Silva PG, Silva AC, Colucci M, Tuffanin A, Jardim JR, et al. Impact of cane use on pain, function, general health and energy expenditure during gait in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71(2):172-9.
Amatachaya S, Khuna L, Amatachaya P, Wiyanad A. The use of a single-time sit-to-stand test in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury by primary health care providers. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2023;29(2):84-96.
Lord SR, Murray SM, Chapman K, Munro B, Tiedemann A. Sit-to-stand performance depends on sensation, speed, balance, and psychological status in addition to strength in older people. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002;57(8):M539-43.
Janssen WG, Bussmann HB, Stam HJ. Determinants of the sit-to-stand movement: a review. Phys Ther. 2002;82(9):866-79.
Bohannon RW. Measurement of sit-to-stand among older adults. Top Geriatr Rehabil. 2012; 28(1):11-6.
Khuna L, Amatachaya P, Sooknuan T, Thaweewannakij T, Mato L, Seangsuwan J, et al. Importance of independent sit-to-stand ability in ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017;53:521-6.
Amatachaya S. Clinical and research assessment and monitoring tools for patients with spinal cord injury and their psychometric properties. In: Amatachaya S, editor. Physical Therapy and Spinal Cord Injury Integration of research and clinical experience. Khon kaen, Khon Kaen University; 2020. pp 142-56. (in Thai)
Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav Res Methods. 2007;39(2):175-91.
Hedges LV. Interpretation of the standardized mean difference effect size when distributions are not normal or homoscedastic. Educ Psychol Meas. Published online October 6, 2024.
Khuna L, Thaweewannakij T, Wattanapan P, Amatachaya P, Amatachaya S. Five times sit-to-stand test for ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury: a psychometric study on the effects of arm placements. Spinal Cord. 2020;58(3): 356-64.
Kaewjoho C, Mato L, Amatachaya S. Relationship between the sit-to-stand test and lower extremity muscle strength in ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury. J Med Tech Phy Ther. 2014; 26(3):264-73. (in Thai)
Suwannarat P, Kaewsanmung S, Thaweewannakij T, Amatachaya S. The use of functional performance tests by primary health-care providers to determine walking ability with and without a walking device in community-dwelling elderly. Physiother Theory Pract. 2021;37(1):64-72.
Shumway-Cook A, Brauer S, Woollacott M. Predicting the probability for falls in community-dwelling older adults using the timed up & go test. Phys Ther. 2000; 80(9):896-903.
Thaweewannakij T, Wilaichit S, Chuchot R, Yuenyong Y, Saengsuwan J, Siritaratiwat W, et al. Reference values of physical performance in Thai elderly people who are functioning well and dwelling in the community. Phys Ther. 2013;93(10):1312-20.
Amatachaya S, Kwanmongkolthong M, Thongjumroon A, Boonpew N, Amatachaya P, Saensook W, et al. Influence of timing protocols and distance covered on the outcomes of the 10-meter walk test. Physiother Theory Pract. 2020;36(12):1348-53.
Hardy SE, Perera S, Roumani YF, Chandler JM, Studenski SA. Improvement in usual gait speed predicts better survival in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(11):1727-34.
Lord SE, McPherson K, McNaughton HK, Rochester L, Weatherall M. Community ambulation after stroke: how important and obtainable is it and what measures appear predictive? Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85(2): 234-9.
Amatachaya S, Khuna L, Thaweewannakij T. Responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference of the five times sit-to-stand test in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury: A six-month prospective cohort study. Clin Rehabil. 2023;37(1):109-18.
Saensook W, Mato L, Manimmanakorn N, Amatachaya P, Sooknuan T, Amatachaya S. Ability of sit-to-stand with hands reflects neurological and functional impairments in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2018;56(3):232-8.
Poncumhak P, Saengsuwan J, Amatachaya S. Ability of walking without a walking device in patients with spinal cord injury as determined using data from functional tests. J Spinal Cord Med. 2014;37(4):389-96.
Khuna L, Phadungkit S, Thaweewannakij T, Amatachaya P, Amatachaya S. Outcomes of the five times sit-to-stand test could determine lower limb functions of ambulatory people with spinal cord injury only when assessed without hands. J Spinal Cord Med. 2022;45(3):402-9.
Whitney JC, Lord SR, Close JC. Streamlining assessment and intervention in a falls clinic using the timed up and go test and physiological profile assessments. Age Ageing. 2005;34:567-71.
Bischoff HA, Stahelin HB, Monsch AU, Iversen MD, Weyh A, Dechend M, et al. Identifying a cut-off point for normal mobility: a comparison of the timed 'up and go' test in community-dwelling and institutionalised elderly women. Age Ageing. 2003;32:315-20.
Wiyanad A, Thaweewannakij T, Intaruk R, Namwong W, Amatachaya S. Walking speed to determine walking performance of people with mobility limitations from a developing country. Physiother Theory Pract. 2024;40(9):1925-32.
Cesari M, Kritchevsky SB, Penninx BW, Nicklas BJ, Simonsick EM, Newman AB, et al. Prognostic value of usual gait speed in well-functioning older people-results from the health, aging and body composition Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53(10):1675-80.
Saensook W, Phonthee S, Srisim K, Mato L, Wattanapan P, Amatachaya S. Ambulatory assistive devices and walking performance in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2014;52(3):216-9.
Suwannarat P, Thaweewannakij T, Kaewsanmung S, Kaewjoho C, Saengsuwan J, Amatachaya S. Walking devices used by the elderly living in rural areas of Thailand. Malays J Med Sci. 2015;22(2):48-54.
