30-Second Chair Stand: A Home Leg-Strength Check
What it does
Count how many times you can stand up from a chair in 30 seconds and see where your count falls against CDC's reference numbers for adults 60 and over. It is a screening number, not a diagnosis. If you save it, Fit after 50 can choose a fitting daily step and remind you when a retest is due.
If either is not true today, please do not do this check. A clinician or physical therapist can assess your leg strength safely.
Before you start
Use a sturdy chair against a wall and, if you can, have someone nearby. If it does not feel safe, skip it; there is no prize for pushing. Your count is a snapshot of leg strength, not a diagnosis. A low number is a good reason to practice and to mention it to a clinician or physical therapist, then test again in about four weeks. The reference numbers run from age 60 to 94; if you are younger, you will see your count only.
Related: Strength training after 50: where to start and Everyday capability after 50.
