Roberta E. Rikli

TL;DR: It was concluded that the 30-s chair stand provides a reasonably reliable and valid indicator of lower body strength in generally active, community-dwelling older adults.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the development and validation of a functional fitness test battery that can assess the physiologic parameters that support physical mobility in older adults, including upper and lower body strength, aerobic endurance, lower and upper body flexibility, and agility/dynamic balance.

TL;DR: Fitness testing in later years recognized the unique needs of older adults as discussed by the authors, defining functional fitness parameters test validity, reliability, and performance standards, identifying relevant fitness measures for older adults test administration, establishing consistent testing protocols test results, interpreting and using feedback to motivate and improve performance

Abstract: This article describes a nationwide study conducted to develop normative performance data for community-residing older adults. The physical parameters assessed are strength, aerobic endurance, flexibility, and agility/balance. Body mass index was also assessed as an estimate of body composition. The sample comprised 7,183 participants from 267 sites in 21 states. Summary data (M, SD, and percentiles) are reported separately for men and women in 5-year age groups. Results reveal a pattern of decline across most age groups on all variables. ANOVA and post hoc comparisons indicated a significant main effect for age on all variables and that most 5-year age-group declines were significant (p < .007). ANOVAs also revealed a significant main effect for gender on all test items (p < .0001): Men scored better on strength, aerobic endurance, and agility/balance; women scored better on flexibility. The data provide information about normal variations within and usual rates of change across age groups, and they prov...

TL;DR: The proposed standards provide easy-to-use, previously unavailable methods for evaluating physical capacity in older adults relative to that associated with physical independence and can be used in planning interventions that target specific areas of weakness, thus reducing risk for premature loss of mobility and independence.