The ‘5 Times Sit to Stand’ test (Coffee with Finch)
A standard staple of frailty testing in healthcare systems around the world, the 5TSS test his also another very easy, simple, and low tech method to assess the level of frailty of a person.
Remember that while one test can provide a lot of information, one test alone cannot ‘paint the entire picture’.
And remember this very IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:
1.The test we are about to describe, discuss or demonstrate has inherent and potentially life threatening risks.
2.The ‘10-second one-legged stance’ test can potentially lead to a person’s fall & even death from such fall.
3.If you choose to do this at home, please make sure you have someone capable of ensuring your safety while doing it, otherwise consult a professional.
4.While we want you to understand the science, we cannot protect you from harm if we are not present with you.
You will need a kitchen chair of standard height and a stop watch.
THE TEST:
Sit in the chair with arms folded across the chest and back against the chair
Start the timer at the moment you start standing up
Proceed for 5 full times and stop the timer at the moment your buttocks touch the chair on the last time.
THE RESULTS:
Normative data for the 5xSTS test (Bohannon et al, 2010; Lusardi et al, 2003):
20-29 yrs ⇒ 6.0±1.4 sec
30-39 yrs ⇒ 6.1±1.4 sec
40-49 yrs ⇒ 7.6±1.8 sec
50-59 yrs ⇒ 7.7±2.6 sec
60-69 yrs ⇒ 8.4±0.0 sec (male), 12.7±1.8 sec (female)
70-79 yrs ⇒ 11.6±3.4 sec (male), 13.0±4.8 sec (female)
80-89 yrs ⇒ 16.7±4.5 sec (male), 17.2±5.5 sec (female)
90+ yrs ⇒ 19.5±2.3 sec (male), 22.9±9.6 sec (female)
Cut-off scores offer a number of insights into patient risk and functional ability:
Patients with a score of greater than or equal to 17 seconds have been found to have a 30% greater risk of hospitalization (Cesari et al, 2009).
Older adults are at risk of recurrent falls with scores greater than 15 seconds (Buatois, et al, 2010).
Increased fall risk in patients with Parkinson’s Disease was found for scores greater than 16 seconds (Duncan et al, 2011).
If you succeeded to match your norms, congratulations!
If you failed don’t feel bad. You are not doomed, you learned, and now you have an opportunity (a second chance!), to improve and correct the factors at play.
The advisable next step is to consult with one of your doctors, and to continue safely testing yourself daily.
Stay tuned.
The Finch Team
https://youtu.be/cxG5OnYeqOY
