Floor Transfers in Older Adults: Insights into Strategies and Lower Extremity Demands

Background/Objectives: Getting up from the floor is an important functional skill for independence in older adults but is not often assessed clinically. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between floor transfer (FT) ability and self-report measures and five-time sit-to-stand (5XSTS) performance and compare peak joint angles during common floor transfer strategies and lower extremity demands between the 5XSTS and a commonly instructed FT strategy. Methods: Thirty-four community-dwelling older adults completed self-report measures and performed the 5XSTS, a FT in a self-selected manner, and an instructed FT strategy. Biomechanical analysis of the lower extremities determined peak joint angles, moments and powers during study tasks. Correlations determined associations between FT time and self-report scores, 5XSTS time, and lower extremity demands during the 5XSTS. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis tests determined differences in self-report measures, 5XSTS performance, and FT time between self-selected FT strategies. Lower extremity demands between the 5XSTS and instructed FT strategy were compared with Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. Results: Self-report measures were not associated with FT time or different between FT strategies. Knee flexion was greater in the roll-over compared to the quadruped strategy (p < 0.001). Ankle and hip demands were greater during the instructed FT and knee demands were greater during the 5XSTS (p < 0.001) when comparing the tasks. Conclusions: Study findings may improve clinical decision-making related to FT assessment and interventions in older adults. Prescribing exercises with greater hip and ankle demand than the 5XSTS may help to maximize FT ability.