Five-Times Sit-to-Stand
The five-times sit-to-stand test (5xSTS) measures lower-limb strength and functional mobility. Specifically, it records the time it takes to stand up fully from a chair and sit back down five times as fast as safely possible, without using the arms. Percentile values (P5-P95) are from a pooled analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (Grgic et al. 2025, n=45,470 community-dwelling European adults aged 50+). It is also known as the FTSST, the five-repetition sit-to-stand test, or the chair rise test. Lower times indicate better performance. Because the source covers adults aged 50 and over, no younger-adult norms are shown.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Straight-backed armless chair (approx. 44-48 cm seat height) against a wall
- Stopwatch
- Protocol Steps
-
- Participant sits in the middle of the chair, back straight, feet flat on the floor, arms crossed over the chest.
- On 'Go', the timer starts; the participant stands up fully to an upright position and sits back down.
- This is repeated as fast as safely possible for five complete stand-and-sit cycles.
- The timer stops the moment the participant's buttocks touch the seat on the fifth repetition.
- Scoring
Time recorded to the nearest 0.1 second for five completed repetitions. The arms must stay crossed throughout; a repetition using the arms is not counted.
- Notes
The chair is placed against a wall for safety. Participants unable to complete five stands without using their arms are typically recorded as unable to perform the test rather than given a time.
Data source: SHARE (5xSTS) About this study
Reference population: 45,470 community-dwelling adults aged 50+ from 14 European countries (SHARE wave 5)
Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Norms Chart by Age and Sex (seconds)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 50-54 | Male | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 19 |
| Female | 6 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 18 | |
| 55-59 | Male | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 18 |
| Female | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 20 | |
| 60-64 | Male | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 18 |
| Female | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 20 | |
| 65-69 | Male | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 20 |
| Female | 7 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 22 | |
| 70-74 | Male | 6 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 20 |
| Female | 7 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 20 | |
| 75-79 | Male | 7 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 22 |
| Female | 7 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 23 | |
| 80-84 | Male | 8 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 23 |
| Female | 8 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 25 | |
| 85-89 | Male | 7 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 25 |
| Female | 9 | 12 | 15 | 20 | 28 | |
| 90+ | Male | 9 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 26 |
| Female | 7 | 12 | 15 | 21 | 28 | |
What to expect by age group
Among European adults aged 50 to 54, the median time to complete five sit-to-stands is 9 seconds for men and 10 seconds for women, and the middle 50% fall between 7 and 12 seconds. Median times rise to about 15 seconds by age 90+ for both sexes. Faster times reflect greater lower-limb strength; times at the slow end (the 95th percentile) reach roughly 18 to 28 seconds depending on age. Lower is faster.
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 50-54 | 7 to 12 | 7 to 12 |
| 55-59 | 7 to 12 | 8 to 13 |
| 60-64 | 8 to 13 | 8 to 14 |
| 65-69 | 8 to 14 | 9 to 15 |
| 70-74 | 8 to 15 | 9 to 15 |
| 75-79 | 9 to 15 | 9 to 17 |
| 80-84 | 10 to 17 | 11 to 18 |
| 85-89 | 10 to 18 | 12 to 20 |
| 90+ | 11 to 18 | 12 to 21 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the five-times sit-to-stand test measure?
Lower-limb strength and functional mobility. Standing up from a chair repeatedly without using the arms mainly loads the quadriceps and hip extensors, so a faster time reflects stronger legs and better everyday function. Slower times are associated with increased fall risk and frailty in older adults.
What is the protocol for the five-times sit-to-stand test?
The full step-by-step protocol is detailed in the 'How to Perform This Test (Protocol)' section above.
How is this different from the 30-second chair stand?
They are inverse protocols. The 30-second chair stand counts how many stands you complete in a fixed 30 seconds (more reps is better). The five-times sit-to-stand times how long five stands take (a shorter time is better). Norms are not interchangeable, and the two tests come from different populations.
Why does this metric only cover ages 50 and over?
The reference values come from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a panel study of adults aged 50 and older. The pooled sample of 45,470 participants therefore has no coverage below age 50.
Where do the percentile values come from?
From Grgic et al. (2025, DOI), a pooled analysis of 45,470 community-dwelling European adults aged 50+ from the SHARE survey. The study reports the 20th and 80th percentiles but not the 25th and 75th, so the P25 and P75 values shown here use the source's P20 and P80 as the nearest available approximation. P5, P50, and P95 are reported directly.