Jumping From a Chair is a More Sensitive Measure of Power Performance In Older Adults Than Chair Rising

Abstract

Background/Study Context: The study estimates the reliability of peak velocity and peak power during chair rising and chair jumping tests and their ability to discriminate between different age and physical activity level groups.Methods: Physically active and sedentary individuals (N = 262) of different ages (young: 22.9 ± 2.0 years, range: 21–25 years; older: 63.1 ± 1.8 years, range: 61–65 years) performed, in random order, chair rising and chair jumping tests on a force plate. Randomly selected young subjects performed both tests repeatedly on two different occasions separated by 1 week. From the sitting position with the arms crossed on the chest, they either stand up completely (chair rising test), or jump as high as possible (chair jumping test).Results: The test-retest reliability of peak power and peak velocity during chair rising as well as chair jumping was excellent, with high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs; .90–.98) and low standard error of measurement (SEM; 7.0–9.1%). Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences in peak power and peak velocity between the sedentary and physically active young and older subjects. However, greater coefficients of variation for both parameters were found for chair jumping than chair rising (21.1–40.2% vs. 11.0–15.2%). Additionaly, there were moderate correlations of peak power and peak velocity between chair rising and chair jumping (r = .42–.49). There were greater within- and between-group differences in peak force and peak power and a steeper increase in their values during the initial phase of chair jumping than chair rising.Conclusion: Both chair rising and chair jumping tests provide reliable data and are valid indicators of lower body power in young and older adults. However, jumping from a chair is a more sensitive measure of strength and power performance than chair rising.