title: Functional muscle power testing in young, middle-aged, and community-dwelling nonfrail and prefrail older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the stair climb (SC) and sit-to-stand (STS) transfer test for functional power assessment in young, middle-aged, and community-dwelling nonfrail and prefrail older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sport science institute providing health-related exercise programs for older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=60; age, 22-81y) were divided into groups of young (n=15; 20-30y), middle-aged (n=16; 40-60y), nonfrail older (n=16; >65y), and prefrail older adults (n=13; >65y).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  SC and STS transfer power were measured on 2 separate occasions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age and height correlated positively (P<.001) with both power measures. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that 67.9% (R(2)) of the variance in SC power and 31.3% (R(2)) of the variance in STS transfer power can be attributed to age and height. Significant age-related subgroup differences were found for SC power (P=.001). Nonfrail and prefrail older adults differed significantly in both power measures (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that SC and STS transfer power are sensitive enough to distinguish between nonfrailty and prefrailty. This suggests that both tests are relevant clinical measures in older people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. astrid.zech@unihamburg.de
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zech
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steib
authors.forename: Dipl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sportwiss
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Freiberger
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult