The predictive value for all-cause mortality of the sit and rise test is astonishingly accurate, and a recent study shows this. Dr. Claudio Gil Araújo and colleagues at the Clinimex — Exercise Medicine Clinic in Rio de Janeiro, studied over 2,000 men and women age 51-80: their ability to lower to a sitting position on a floor, then rise from it.
The average follow-up time, after the sit and stand test, was 6.3 years. During that time there were 159 deaths.
The instructions for the sit and rise test were to try to sit on the floor, then rise to standing, using minimum support (knees, hands, arms), and don’t worry about speed. A starting value for sitting and rising (5 points each) was given, and then from that, points were deducted for each support used, such as knee or hand.
Most of the 159 deaths occurred in people who had low test scores. Only two of the deaths occurred in people who had the highest score possible (10 points).
The variable of age, gender and body mass index were adjusted for, yet still, the correlation between score and mortality was remarkable: a significant predictor for all-cause mortality. People with the lowest scores had a 5-6 times greater risk of mortality than those in the reference group.
It’s clear that the sit and rise test has a strong predictive value for all-cause mortality, but what is the explanation for this?
I’m a certified personal trainer, and the first thing that comes to my mind is that the ability to sit on the floor without assistance, then rise to one’s feet without help, is something that a physically fit person would be able to do.
Points were also subtracted if a person sat or rose with instability, even if a knee or hand did not touch the floor. Not all “physically fit” people, however, can sit and stand without the assistance of another body part. And if they can, many will exhibit instability.
To see if you can pass this test, stand with legs crossed over each other with feet about a foot or so apart. Now slowly lower your butt to the floor without your hands touching anything. If you plop down without control, this doesn’t count.
You are now sitting on the floor, legs crossed, like preschoolers typically do while listening to a lesson. From this position, stand (reverse what you did going down), without hands touching anything. If while rising, you stumble backwards but then regain your footing, this nets a deduction, even if your hands didn’t touch anything.
A person who’s serious about strength training will often be able to do this. A serious physical fitness enthusiast likely has a clean diet, and doesn’t smoke or drink. So it makes a lot of sense that the sit and rise test is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality.
The report says that a one-point increment in the score correlated to a 21 percent reduction in mortality.
“It is well known that aerobic fitness is strongly related to survival,” says Dr. Araújo, “but our study also shows that maintaining high levels of body flexibility, muscle strength, power-to-body weight ratio and coordination are not only good for performing daily activities but have a favorable influence on life expectancy.
Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121213085202.htm
