“The present research was designed to investigate the mechanisms how ageing and orthopaedics disorders interact in determining and recovering from an impaired fast STS movement. Our findings verify the hypotheses that, in elders with motor impairments consequent to orthopaedic disorders (MIE), ageing and functional impairment reduce the performance in a successful fast sit-to-stand (STS) movement and that increasing knee extensor muscle strength improve this capability. On the basis of the comparison with healthy elderly subjects, we found that trunk bending momentum and knee extensor muscle strength are significant determinants of the fast STS capability in MIE as well as in healthy elders.”
M. Bernardi, et. al, 2004
(Grammatical errors in excerpt are those of the authors of the study)

[So, it has been found that a rehabilitation program that focused on improving knee extension strength (leg extension machine) transferred directly with statistical significance to a fast sit-to-stand task. Another point within the study that is directly contrary to the “functionalists” proposition that an exercise must look like the goal activity in order to improve performance is that the leg extension was performed isometrically in three positions. So not only do we have more evidence that a leg extension can improve a squat-like motion (i.e. “isolation” transfers; of course we knew that it is “integration” that creates an “isolated” movement), we also have support that a static challenge can improve movement.]

Visit the RTS Site at www.rts123.com