If you can do 19 reps of this simple exercise after 60, your leg strength is considered elite

a senior woman exercising — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

As we get older, staying fit is more important than ever. Not only can it mean you’re independent for longer, but it can help combat the muscle loss that occurs as you age, and prevent falls and injuries.

Yet how can you tell how fit you are? If you’re returning to fitness following an injury, or an extended break, or you’re just curious how your fitness fares amongst your peers, the Senior Fitness Test Kit is a good place to start. The test looks at your overall fitness and involves common activities such as standing up from a chair, walking, lifting, bending and stretching.

The sit-to-stand exercise is essentially a squat, and while it might sound basic, it’s one of the most important movements when it comes to longevity. It tests your lower body strength, as when you complete the exercise, you’re working your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and core. Plus, because you’re working the largest muscle group in your body, if you do these for an extended number of reps, you’ll raise your heart rate too, giving you cardiovascular benefits, without leaving your house.

Here’s how many reps you need to complete to be considered ‘above average’, and how to do the sit-to-stand exercise with good form.

How to do the sit-to-stand exercise

For this exercise, you’ll need a sturdy chair that you can comfortably sit on with both feet flat on the floor. Ideally, the chair shouldn’t have armrests or wheels.

an illo of a man doing the sit-to-stand exercise — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Sit with your feet hip-width apart on the front of a chair. You should have a 90-degree bend in your knees, and your feet should be flat on the floor.
Place your hands on your thighs, at the side of the chair, or across your body (this is the hardest variation).
Lean forward slightly, shifting your weight into your feet, and engage your core as you push through your feet to stand up.
Slowly lower yourself back down to the chair, controlling the movement. Gently tap the chair before standing again.

Keep your core ‘engaged’ throughout this exercise. To engage your core, think about sucking your belly button into your spine, or bracing your mid-section as if someone were going to punch your stomach.

If you can do this many sit-to-stands after 60, your leg strength is considered ‘above average.’

Here’s a breakdown of the numbers for this particular exercise in the senior fitness test. All you’ll need is something to time yourself on, as you’ll complete as many reps as you can in 30 seconds, and to keep count in your head:

Men's results

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Age	Below average	Average	Above average
60-64	Less than 14	14-19	More than 19
65-69	Less than 12	12-18	More than 18
70-74	Less than 12	12-17	More than 17
75-79	Less than 11	11-17	More than 17
80-84	Less than 10	10-15	More than 15
85-89	Less than 8	8-14	More than 14
90-94	Less than 7	7-12	More than 12

Women's results

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Age	Below average	Average	Above average
60-64	Less than 12	12-17	More than 17
65-69	Less than 11	11-16	More than 16
70-74	Less than 10	10-15	More than 15
75-79	Less than 10	10-15	More than 15
80-84	Less than 9	9-14	More than 14
85-89	Less than 8	8-13	More than 13
90-94	Less than 4	4-11	More than 11

If you’re not quite where you want to be, now is a good time to work on your fitness. Of course, if you’re recovering from a back or lower-body injury, or you’re a complete beginner, it’s always a good idea to seek personalized advice from a professional before trying something new.

To increase the number of reps you can comfortably perform, keep practicing! Start by holding the armrests of your chair for help, and after a few days, reduce the support by just placing your fingertips on the armrests, then cross your arms over your chest as you get stronger.

If your reps feel easy, congratulations! To increase the intensity of the sit-to-stand exercise, remove the ‘sit’ element of the exercise, hovering your glutes a few inches above the chair, rather than sitting down completely between reps. Alternatively, hold a set of the best adjustable dumbbells in your hands as you complete the exercise.

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Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past five years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy.

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