A Simple Chair Test May Help Predict Serious Health Risks in Older Adults

A simple test that measures how easily an older adult can repeatedly stand up from a chair may offer important clues about their future health, according to a study published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science. Investigators found that low “sit-to-stand” muscle power was associated with increased risks of falls, fractures, hospitalization, longer hospital stays and even death in adults aged 65 and older.

“Advances in medicine and public health over recent decades have increased life expectancy,” wrote investigators. “However, the real challenge lies in ensuring that these additional years are lived with independence and a good quality of life. In this context, muscle function plays a central role, often determining whether older adults remain independent or develop functional limitations and geriatric syndromes.”

The study included 1,876 older adults participating in the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging. A team of investigators used a common assessment called the 30-second sit-to-stand test, which measures how many times a person can safely rise from a seated position within 30 seconds. The test helps estimate lower-body muscle power, balance, mobility and functional strength — all critical factors for maintaining independence as people age.

Investigators categorized participants as having either normal or low relative sit-to-stand power based on established thresholds for men and women. Participants were then followed for several years to examine how muscle power related to major health outcomes.

The findings showed significant differences between people with lower and higher muscle power. In men, low sit-to-stand power was linked to a greater likelihood of falls and fractures within the previous year. Men with lower muscle power had approximately 73% higher odds of reporting falls and significantly higher odds of fractures compared to men with stronger performance.

Among women, low sit-to-stand power was especially associated with hip fractures, one of the most serious injuries older adults can experience because of the long recovery time and potential loss of independence that often follows. Women with low muscle power were more than three times as likely to have experienced a hip fracture.

The study also found that women with low sit-to-stand power were more likely to require hospitalization over time. In both men and women, lower muscle power was associated with longer hospital stays, suggesting that reduced physical function may make recovery from illness or injury more difficult.

Perhaps most strikingly, both men and women with low sit-to-stand power had a significantly higher risk of death from any cause during the follow-up period. Women with low muscle power had about double the risk of death compared with women with higher muscle power, while men also faced substantially elevated risk.

Investigators say these findings reinforce the importance of muscle strength and functional mobility in healthy aging. While many people focus primarily on weight or cardiovascular fitness, lower-body power plays a major role in balance, stability, independence and resilience during illness or injury.

One of the most important aspects of the study is that the sit-to-stand test is simple, inexpensive and easy to perform in clinical settings or even at home. The team believes it could become a practical screening tool to help identify older adults who may benefit from earlier interventions such as strength training, physical therapy, fall prevention programs, or mobility support.

The findings also serve as a reminder that maintaining muscle strength through regular physical activity, resistance exercises, balance training and healthy aging habits may help reduce the risk of serious complications later in life.

“In just 30 seconds, a simple movement like standing up from a chair can reveal a person’s risk of falls, hospitalization and even death,” concluded investigators. “Muscle power is not only essential for maintaining independence, but also a powerful biomarker of how well we age. Measuring it is simple; its implications are profound.”