\u201cGetting up from a chair may seem like a very simple task, but it actually requires several systems to work together,\u201d Hribick told HuffPost. \u201cYou need adequate strength and power in the muscles of your hips and legs, good balance, coordination, joint mobility and enough cardiovascular capacity to repeat this movement several times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of that, a chair-rise test can give us a quick snapshot of a person\u2019s overall functional mobility,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The sit-to-stand chair test is an indicator of longevity.<\/p>\n
The sit-to-stand chair test is useful because of how much it reveals about a person\u2019s health. \u201cIt is simple to perform, functional, inexpensive, and has a lot of research behind it,\u201d Hribick said.<\/p>\n
This exercise requires a person \u201cto move their own body weight through space and coordinate the motion of their hips, knees, ankles, trunk and balance system,\u201d Hribick said.<\/p>\n
And since standing is something we have to do repeatedly every day, this practical exercise has real-world relevance.<\/p>\n
\u201cChair squats keep the hips, knees and ankles moving through ranges we use every day for walking, stairs and getting up and down,\u201d Hazel Anderson<\/a>, an associate professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, told HuffPost.<\/p>\n \u201cThe chair stand isn\u2019t a crystal ball for longevity, but it is a simple window into our functional reserve, alongside things like walking speed, balance and grip strength,\u201d Anderson continued. \u201cThe goal isn\u2019t a perfect score; it\u2019s maintaining the strength and movement we need to keep doing the things we love.\u201d<\/p>\n Mobility and power decline with age.<\/p>\n The secret to a long and healthy life is maintaining self-sufficiency, and chair squats can help.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we age, we lose about 3 to 5% of muscle mass per year after the age of 40, unless you do something to counteract that,\u201d Dr. Jennifer Timmons<\/a>, a physician specializing in longevity and founder and medical director of Timmons Wellness<\/a>, told HuffPost.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this loss of muscle mass leads to a cascade of other problems, including decreased mobility, greater fall risk, and ultimately loss of independence,\u201d Timmons said. \u201cDoing the chair rise test gives us a quick snapshot of overall function and capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n Muscle power \u2014 \u201cour ability to generate force quickly\u201d \u2014 also declines with age and can affect daily activities like getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, keeping your balance if you trip and more, according to Hribick.<\/p>\n \u201cResearch involving more than 11,000 older adults<\/a> has shown that insufficient sit-to-stand muscle power is associated with mobility limitations and disability with activities of daily living,\u201d he said. \u201cIn addition, sit-to-stand power has also been associated with physical independence<\/a> later in life.\u201d<\/p>\n Doing exercises that strengthen these muscles is important to continue living an independent life.<\/p>\n MStudioImages via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cThe chair stand isn\u2019t a crystal ball for longevity, but it is a simple window into our functional reserve,\u201d said one healthy aging expert.<\/p>\n This exercise is also linked to cognitive performance.<\/p>\n Older adults who passed the chair-rise test also showed strong cognitive abilities<\/a>, another important factor for longevity.<\/p>\n \u201cStanding up quickly requires motor planning, coordination, attention, and rapid integration of sensory information,\u201d Hribick explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThose who stay physically active and maintain better neuromuscular function often maintain better health in several other areas, including cognitive health<\/a>,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to do the sit-to-stand chair test.<\/p>\n Place a sturdy chair against a wall, then sit down with your feet flat on the ground in front of you and your arms crossed over your chest. Stand up, extending your hips and knees, then sit back down without using your arms to help.<\/p>\n The movement should be controlled enough that the moment you touch the seat, you can immediately stand up again.<\/p>\n![\"\u201cThe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/6acf89e327000026649899f9.jpeg\")
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