Floor Recovery Biometric Analysis: What Does It Take to Get Off the Floor?

Tara Granada, Sarah Quinn, Erin Cooper, Nolan Livingston, Lyndsey Blair, Leann Kerr
Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to analyze the joint kinematics, movement strategies, and timed performance of individuals age 60 years and older completing a sit to stand transfer and a floor to stand transfer.  

Methods:

Subjects consisted of 10 female (ages 63-87) and 10 male (ages 60-79) community-dwelling individuals. Subjects were excluded if they were outside the ages of 60-90 or not able to independently rise from the floor.   

An intake survey was completed including age, height, weight, medical history, falls history, and use of assistive device. Researchers administered the Timed Up and Go (TUG), 5STS, and the Timed Up From Floor (TUFF) test. For the movement analysis, researchers applied the Noraxon Myomotion sensors, and each subject performed one Sit to Stand and two Floor to Stand transfers.  The Floor to Stand transfers were also observed visually to determine a movement analysis regarding the preparation, initiation, and execution stages of the task. 

Results:

Mean TUG was 7.9 (1.2) seconds, mean 5STS was 13.2 (5.9) seconds and mean TUFF was 6.2 (3.4) seconds. 18 participants repeated floor transfer strategies both attempts (6 sit-up, 9 side-sit, 3 roll-over).  Peak joint angles were calculated for thoracic, lumbar, hip, knee and ankle movements for both sit to stand and floor transfer tasks.



Conclusion(s):

Linear regression revealed that floor transfer was significantly associated with the 5STS (β = 0.48, p-value 0.0001). This relationship remained significant after adjusting for age (β = 0.42, p-value 0.0001); together they explained 75% of the variance (R² = 0.75) in floor transfer time.    Data showed significant correlations between TUG and TUFF, TUG and 5STS, & TUFF and age.  There was no statistical difference between the TUFF score and the method used to get up off the floor (p = 0.138).


Implications:

Current research supports the need for rehab professionals to include floor to stand transfers into comprehensive falls prevention and falls preparedness treatment plans.   Understanding the joint kinematics required to independently perform this transfer will allow therapists insight to tailor interventions aimed at improving joint mobility needed for functional mobility.  Furthermore, better understanding the relationships between various outcome measures will improve examination flow and clinical decision making when working with the geriatric population. 

Funding acknowledgements:
Bellarmine University (Office of Sponsored Projects) Provost’s Office Graduate Student Award ($500)
Keywords:
floor transfer
falls
movement analysis
Primary topic:
Older people
Second topic:
Health promotion and wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Third topic:
Disability and rehabilitation
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY, USA, Institutional Review Board
Provide the ethics approval number:
#1127
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
Yes

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