Experimental Gerontology · Jul 2, 2026

Sit-to-stand power shows greater magnitude associations with radial bone strength compared to handgrip strength in adults aged 60-95 years: A cross-sectional study

By Sherwood JJ, Inouye C, Yingling VR et al.

Fracture-related disability is a major public health concern among older adults, with osteoporosis as a key contributor. However, opportunities for early identification of declining bone strength are often missed until after a first fragility fracture, highlighting the need for accessible, low-cost, field-based screening tools. This cross-sectional study compared the associations or lower-limb power measured during a single sit-to-stand repetition (STSp) and combined bilateral grip strength (CGS) with radial bone parameters in 58 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-95 years (57.1% female). Radial bone strength parameters were assessed at the 66% cortical and 4% trabecular sites using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Both STSp and CGS were moderately to strongly correlated with radial parameters (r = 0.42-0.83; p < 0.001). In hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) analyses, STSp was significantly and positively associated with geometric, architectural, and strength parameters at the 66% site after adjusting for sex. At the 4% radial site, neither STSp nor CGS was significantly associated with any bone outcomes, whereas sex remained significantly associated only with bone strength and quantity parameters. Overall, STSp was more strongly associated with radial bone strength parameters than CGS. These findings support further investigation of the STSp test as a practical tool for community-based bone assessment and musculoskeletal health monitoring in older adults.

doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2026.113225 Open access PubMed 42392462 Biomarkers