Relation between the stand-up test and gait speed, knee osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound - Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between the stand-up test and gait speed, knee osteoarthritis (OA), and osteoporosis using calcaneal quantitative ultrasound. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 185 subjects (55 men, 130 women) aged ≥40 years (mean age, 63.7 years; range, 40-79 years) were evaluated using the stand-up test to screen for locomotive syndrome. We also assessed OA of the knee using X-rays and a subjective questionnaire, physical characteristics, 6-m gait speed (m/s), and bone density. If results on the stand-up test were worse than benchmarks by age group (i.e., the height at which 50% of each age group could stand-up), the subject was defined as having a risk for locomotive syndrome (L group). We analyzed the relationship between the stand-up test and other variables. RESULTS: Of 185 subjects, 50 (27.0%) were classified into the L group. In univariate analysis, there were significant differences between the L group and non-L group in bone density (p < 0.001), gait speed (p < 0.001), osteoporosis (p < 0.001), slow gait speed group (SGSG) (cut off 1 m/s), and Japanese knee osteoarthritis measure score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, height, weight, and gender showed a significant association between the stand-up test and bone density (OR 0.960, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.927-0.994), gait speed (m/s) (OR 0.073, 95% CI 0.016-0.342), osteoporosis (OR 3.710, 95% CI 1.410-9.764), and SGSG (OR 7.849, 95% CI 1.628-37.845). CONCLUSIONS: The stand-up test to screen for the risk for locomotive syndrome was associated with bone density, gait speed, osteoporosis, SGSG. The stand-up test is an easy test to use to screen for possible disability among the elderly.