SingHealth Polyclinics - Functional Strength Building of Older Persons

Short physical performance battery score

It assesses the functional mobility of an older adult's lower extremities in three domains (static balance, gait speed and chair stands). Balance is evaluated via the duration which participant can maintain side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem stances. Gait speed is measured by duration taken by the participant to walk 3 meters at their usual pace. Lower limb strength is assessed using the chair stand test, which records the time taken to complete five consecutive sit-to-stand movements from an armless chair with the participants' arms folded across the chest.

Time frame: Assessed at baseline (at the start of the first exercise session) and 12 weeks (during the 12th exercise session)

Hand grip strength

It is assessed using a handgrip dynamometer, with participants' elbows flexed at 90 degrees with the forearm in neutral position, squeezing the device as hard as possible with their left and right hands. The average recorded value from two measurements was used for analysis of this study

Time frame: Assessed at baseline (at the start of the first exercise session) and 12 weeks (during the 12th exercise session)

30-Seconds Sit-to-Stand repetitions

30-Seconds Sit-to-Stand repetitions is a measure of lower limb strength, endurance, and functional fitness. It is performed by recording the maximum number of times a participant can stand up fully and sit down from an armless chair within 30 seconds, with their arms folded across their chest. A higher number of repetitions indicate better functional capacity

Time frame: Assessed at first exercise session and 12th exercise session (i.e. 12 weeks from baseline)