USE OF 30-S CHAIR-STAND TEST IN MEASURING LOWER BODY STRENGHT IN JAPANESE ADULTS

Abstract

A 30-s chair-stand test has been widely used in western countries as a measure of lower body strength, especially in older adults. However, this test is not yet commonly practiced in Japan. PURPOSE: To 1) assess the criterion-related validity of the 30-s chair-stand test as a measure of lower body strength in Japanese adults of various ages and 2) identify age-associated declines in performance for the 30-s chair stand test. METHODS: A total of 1133 adults (men = 455, women = 678) aged 30–79 years were recruited from Nagoya City to participate in this study. Each participant performed both the 30-s chair-stand test (Rikli & Jones, 1999) and a maximum leg-press test (T. K. K. Leg extension power, Takei Kiki Co., Japan). RESULTS: A moderate correlation existed between performance on the 30-s chair-stand test and the maximum leg-press test in both men (r = 0.60) and women (r = 0.56). These results support the criterion-related validity of the 30-s chair-stand test as a measure of lower body strength in Japanese adults. Performance on the 30-s chair-stand test was similar between the 3rd and 4th decade of life and then declined significantly for each decade thereafter. The difference in performance between the 3rd and 7th decade was 25.6% for men and 23.7% for women. These age-associated declines are lower than the typical 15% per-decade decline in lower body strength described in other sources (Rikli, 1999; ACSM, 1998; Shephard, 1997). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the 30-s chair stand test is a valid tool for measuring lower body strength in Japanese adults. Further work needs to be done to compare adults from different cultures in regards to age-associated declines in muscle strength.