Abstract
GNYACSM Original Research Abstract
Effect of a Structured Physical Activity Program on Chair Stand Disability in Older Adults
RYAN R. ALVAREZ, TODD MANINI, JACK GURALNIK, ANOOP T. BALACHANDRAN
Exercise & Aging Lab; Department of Family, Nutrition & Exercise Science; Queens College; Flushing, NEW YORK
School of Medicine; University of Maryland; Baltimore, MARYLAND Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics; College of Medicine and Institute on Aging at the University of Florida; Gainesville, FLORIDA
Chair stand disability, or the inability to stand up from a chair without assistance, is fundamental to activities of daily living and is associated with physical dependence and lower quality of life. To our knowledge, no trial has evaluated whether a physical activity program can prevent or delay the onset of chair stand disability. PURPOSE: To evaluate if a structured physical activity program can prevent chair stand disability in older adults.
METHODS: This secondary analysis of the multi-center LIFE study evaluated the effects of a structured physical activity program vs. a health education program among 1,635 older adults aged 70–89 years with physical limitations for an average of 2.6 years. The moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) program (n = 818) was conducted at a center (twice/week) and at home and included aerobic, resistance, and flexibility training; the health education (HE) program (n = 817) included workshops on topics relevant to older adults and upper extremity stretching exercises. The primary outcome of chair stand disability (CSD), defined as loss of ability to stand up from a chair without assistance, was measured at baseline, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months by a blinded assessor unaware of group assignment. A Cox proportional hazard model was used with clinical site and sex as stratifying factors.
RESULTS: After removing 127 participants who experienced CSD at baseline, incident CSD was experienced by 89 participants (11.7%) in the PA group and 132 (17.7%) participants in the HE group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49–0.84; p = .001). In sensitivity analysis, broadening the event definition by including participants who did not attempt chair stand test for safety concerns, incident CSD was experienced by 97 participants (12.9 %) in the PA group and 128 participants (17.6%) in the HE group (HR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.55–0.94; p = .016), consistent with our primary finding.
CONCLUSION: A structured, physical activity program led to a 36% lower risk of incident chair stand disability compared to the health education group among low-functioning older adults.
Recommended Citation
Alvarez, Ryan R.; Manini, Todd; Guralnik, Jack; and Balachandran, Anooop T.
(2026)
"Effect of a Structured Physical Activity Program on Chair Stand Disability in Older Adults,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15:
Iss.
8, Article 14.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss8/14