Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2008;42:293-300
Evaluating how predialysis patients rise from a chair may provide a simple way to identify those who need help with muscle training and functional exercise, according to researchers in Sweden and Norway.
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They studied 55 predialysis patients with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 20 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or less. They filled out questionnaires about their physical activity. Muscle performance was measured using an electronic force transducer for grip strength and knee extension.
They had patients rise from a 45 cm chair without using their arms. For every 1 mL/min per 1.73 m2 drop in GFR, patients were 1.5 times less likely to be able to rise from the chair. If the patients were diabetic, they were 1.7 to 21 times less likely to rise from the chair.
The researchers evaluated other clinical tests of physical functioning as well, including “timed up and go,” test, walking, standing heel-rise, and climbing up a 45-cm high step, but found no association between GFR and the results of these tests.
