Sit-to-stand transfer: comparison between asymptomatic and osteoarthritic elderly women and correlation between movement time and muscle function

• Published in: Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (São Carlos (São Paulo, Brazil)) Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 305 - 311
• Main Authors: Faria, J C, Dias, R C, Machala, C C, Alencar, MA, Arantes, PMM, Dias, JMD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 01.12.2005
• ISSN: 1413-3555

In elderly people, inability to perform the sit-to-stand transfer in a short time is associated with increased morbidity. Knee extensor and flexor strength and power are important factors in performing this activity. When the sit-to-stand transfer velocity is increased, temporal changes occur only in phases I and II of the movement. This study had the aims of comparing the time taken between beginning the movement and ending phase II of the sit-to-stand transfer, between elderly women with osteoarthritis (OA) and without OA, and determining the correlations between this variable and peak torque and power of the knee muscles in elderly women with OA. Time was compared between community-dwelling women with OA (n = 38) and without OA (n = 22). For the symptomatic group correlations between time and peak isokinetic torque and power of the knee muscles at 60 degree /s and 180 degree /s were investigated. The times were statistically different (p = 0.0001), between the groups with OA (0.43 plus or minus 0.24 s) and without OA (0.23 plus or minus 0.12 s). There were no significant correlations between time and muscle function parameters, at either velocity. Elderly women with OA take more time to complete phases I and II of the sit-to-stand task than do asymptomatic controls. This indicates preclinical dysfunction and the need for early intervention. The lack of correlations suggests that the knee muscles are not essential in influencing the duration of these phases, and shows the need for further investigation of associations between these times and other muscles involved.