Reference values for 30-s chair stand test and five-times sit-to-stand test among older adults living in Faafu Atoll

Purpose This paper aims to establish reference values for the 30-s chair stand test (30-CST) and five times sit-to-stand test (5-STS) among community-dwelling older adults living in Faafu Atoll, Maldives. Design/methodology/approach To find reference values for chair stand tests, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted using two-staged cluster sampling methods for older adults aged >55 living in the five islands of the Faafu Atoll. The reference values are described as descriptive statistics with differences between genders in the performance of 5-STS and 30-CST, which were analyzed using the independent t-test and Mann−Whitney U test. The association between 30-CST and 5-STS with demographic factors was calculated using Kendall’s tau and Pearson correlation tests. Findings The mean time of the chair stand test for 5-STS in females was 11.33 ± 3.80 s, and in Males, it was 11.23 ± 3.30 s. The median number of chair stands performed for 30-CST for both females and Males was 13. There was no significant difference between reference values for 30-CST (p = 0.837) and 5-STS (p = 0.787) among the genders. However, there was a significant difference across the age groups for 5-STS (p = 0.0001) and 30-CST (p = 0.0001). Significant associations were found with age, height and leg length for both chair stand tests, while weight and BMI were not significantly associated with performance on the tests. Research limitations/implications The study’s limitation is that it focuses on a specific population in Faafu Atoll, limiting generalizability to other geographical locations. However, this has significant implications for the local context, where the population is aging and many adults reside on remote islands. Establishing these reference values supports healthcare providers in assessing mobility and enables earlier detection of functional decline among older adults. Practical implications The reference values for the 30-CST and 5-STS in older persons from Faafu Atoll serve as essential thresholds for evaluating lower body strength and functional mobility within this demographic. These values can assist health-care providers in identifying people susceptible to mobility problems, formulating targeted interventions and evaluating the efficacy of strength training or rehabilitation programs. Localized norms provide reference values that enhance the accuracy of assessments and interventions for older people, hence increasing their overall quality of life and autonomy. Social implications The reference values for chair stand tests provide significant insights into the functional health of older persons in Faafu Atoll, enhancing awareness of age-related mobility problems. They can facilitate community-oriented initiatives, promote active aging and enhance social inclusion. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study conducted in the Maldives to evaluate reference values for chair stand tests across different age groups of older adults living in Faafu Atoll.