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FUNCTION · MUSCLE · 6 MIN

Why is it harder to stand up from a chair?

Standing up looks simple, but it combines lower-limb strength, movement of the centre of mass, balance, joint mobility and coordination.

Three things to know
01Lower-limb strength contributes strongly to chair rise, but is not the only factor.
02Five Times Sit-to-Stand can standardise repeated chair rises for follow-up.
03Chair height, arm use and instructions should remain consistent when comparing results over time.

A demanding everyday movement

The trunk first moves forward, the centre of mass shifts over the feet and the hips and knees then extend. Strength and balance both contribute.

Why it may become harder

Lower strength or power, pain-protective strategies, limited joint motion, balance problems or coordination changes can all influence the task.

What a slower result means

It describes reduced functional performance under that protocol. It does not, by itself, diagnose sarcopenia or identify one specific cause.

Established evidenceFactual statements are grounded in the publications listed below.
KŌMØ perspectiveKŌMØ favours a multidimensional, longitudinal reading of mobility.
LimitsThis page is educational and does not replace medical assessment when a change is recent, marked or accompanied by other symptoms.

References

  1. What is the optimal chair stand test protocol for older adults? A systematic review. 2019
  2. The relative importance of strength and balance in chair rise. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1996
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