Assessment Of Activity Level In Senior Athletes And Performance On The Sit-to-stand Test

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of activity level (as assessed by different questionnaires) on the sit-to-stand transfer test (as measured on the Neurocom BalanceMaster® system in active elderly and senior athletes (participating in the Huntsman World Senior Games). METHODS: Anlayses are based on 2396 World Senior Games attendees who were age 50 and over. Data were obtained from voluntary participation in balance and mobility screening as part of the health fair offered to all participants. Of the 2396 subjects tested, 1715 were participants in at least one sporting event at the games and 681 were "non"-participants. 1059 subjects were assessed for activity using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults. 2091 completed a short questionnaire for exercise related activity. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses for discrete and continuous data were performed. Data from the sit-to-stand test included: time to transfer weight over center of base of support (WTT), rising power (RP), and amount of center of gravity sway (COG). General model analysis for participants vs non-participants for each sit-to-stand variable stratified by age groups (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+) and gender (M, F), showed no statistical differences for WTT and COG, but was significant for RP (p<.0001). Analysis of all subjects who completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults (results stratified into tertiles for activity score) showed no statistical differences in WTT (p=.4696), RP (p=.2946), and COG (p=.4367). Analysis of self-classification by exercise activity in daily life (categorized into often, sometimes, and never/rarely) was only significant for RP (p<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The rising power measure was the only variable affected by the different analyses of activity level. As such we conclude that higher levels of activity directly relate to the potential to produce greater power in the standing motion. Our entire population was probably too active to detect differences in the variables tested based on activity level. Further research involving normal "community dwelling" elderly and more sedentary elderly is needed to better differentiate between activity levels and performance on the sit-to-stand test as measured on the Neurocom.