Introduction to

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Introduction to Senior Fitness Test
Instructor Jessie Jones, Ph.D. Co-director,
Center for Successful Aging California State
University, Fullerton
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Nagis Disablement Model
Disease/ Pathology
Functional Limitation
Disability
Impairment
Lifestyle/ Inactivity
Senior Fitness Test
8 ft Up Go
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Senior Fitness Testpgs. 17-18 SFT Manual

• Developed with the help of a national advisory
  board.
• Scientifically sound test
• Performance Standards
• Measures large-range of
• functional abilities
• Requires little equipment
• Quick and easy to use
• Can be administered in a
• home-setting

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Test Administration
Ch. 4 SFT Manual
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Chair Stand
Measure of lower body Strength/endurance Record
number of stands without hands in 30-seconds
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Arm curl
Measures upper body
strength/endurance Record number of curls in 30
seconds. Women 5 (2.3 kg) wt. Men 8 (3.6
kg) wt.
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Chair sit reach
Measures lower body flexibility Record how
close to, or beyond, the toes a person can reach
while sitting in a chair.  
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Back scratch
Measures upper body flexibility Record
the distance between, or overlap of, the middle
fingers behind the back.
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2-min Step-in-Place
Measures aerobic endurance Record the number of
steps-in-place a person can do in 2 minutes?
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6-Minute walk
Measures aerobic endurance Record the number of
yards a person can walk in 6 minutes?
30 yds
35 yds
40 yds
45 yds
25 yds
ð
ð
ð
ð
ð
_______
20 yds
start
ð
50 yds
5 yds
10 yds
15 yds
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8 Ft. Up Go
Measures balance functional mobility Time it
takes to stand up, walk 8 feet (2.4 meters) and
return to the chair and sit down.
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Interpreting Test Results
Ch. 5 SFT Manual
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Interpreting Test Results

• If a client cant perform the test using the
  exact protocol, you cant compare his/her score
  to the standards.
• Test results still excellent for reporting
  pre/post results.
• Note all adaptation to protocol on the score card.

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Interpreting Test Results

• Norm-referenced standards
• Compare score to gender age group
• Normal Range of Scores (pg. 143)
• Example Chair Stand Normal Range
• Ages 60-64 Men 14-19
• Ages 60-64 Women 12-17

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Interpreting Test Results

• Criterion-referenced standards
• Identify clients at-risk for mobility problems

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Pgs. 89-90 SFT Manual
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Reporting Precautions

• Consider the individual
• Norms are based on 60 active, 40 inactive
  volunteers community-dwelling.
• Everyone can improve!
• Its never too late
• Youre never too old

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Assessment-Based Program Planning