FSHP Academy
Geriatric Fitness — all lessons

Module 1: Foundations

Introduction to geriatric fitness and the specialist’s rolePhysiology of ageing: sarcopenia, dynapenia, osteopeniaAge-related conditions, multimorbidity and frailty

Module 2: Assessment & Screening

Health screening, risk stratification and medicationsFunctional fitness assessment: SFT, SPPB, TUG, gait speed, grip

Module 3: Programming

Principles of programming: FITT-VP, progression, periodisationResistance and power training for sarcopeniaCardiovascular and aerobic conditioningBalance, mobility and fall preventionFlexibility, functional mobility and ADL training

Module 4: Chronic Conditions

Cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions (HTN, CAD, HF, COPD)Metabolic conditions in older adultsMusculoskeletal: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint replacementNeurological and cognitive: Parkinson’s, stroke, MS, dementia

Module 5: Coaching, Safety & Business

Nutrition, hydration and recovery for older adultsBehavioural coaching, communication and adherenceSafety, emergencies and scope of practiceBusiness, settings and career pathwaysCase studies and sample programme templates

Functional fitness assessment: SFT, SPPB, TUG, gait speed, grip

Functional tests for older adults — the Senior Fitness Test, SPPB, Timed Up and Go, gait speed and grip strength — how to administer and interpret them.

Intermediate Evidence: Strong evidence 3 min read Reviewed 2026-10-31 Status: draft

Learning objectives

  • Administer common functional tests safely
  • Interpret results using norms and cut-offs
  • Choose tests for different client levels
  • Use results to set goals and track progress

Before this lesson

Why this matters

Functional tests show what matters to clients — rising, walking, balancing — and track progress.

Tests

TestMeasuresNotes
Senior Fitness Test [rikli2013]30-s chair stand, arm curl, 6-min walk/2-min step, chair sit-and-reach, back scratch, 8-ft up-and-goNorms by age and sex
SPPB [guralnik1994]Balance, 4 m gait speed, 5 chair stands0–12 score
TUG [podsiadlo1991]Stand, walk 3 m, turn, sitLonger times = higher risk
Gait speed [studenski2011]Usual pace over 4 m<0.8 m/s poor; ≥1.0 m/s better
Grip strength [cruzjentoft2019]Dynamometer<27 kg men, <16 kg women

Administration

Use chairs without wheels against a wall, stand close for safety, demonstrate, allow practice, record conditions.

Interpretation

Compare with norms and the client’s own previous results; link to goals (e.g., “rise from the floor”).

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Case study

A 78-year-old scores 7/12 on the SPPB and walks at 0.75 m/s. After 16 weeks of training, she scores 10/12 and walks at 0.95 m/s.

Further learning: video lessons

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Practical demo needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Functional fitness assessment: SFT, SPPB, TUG, gait speed, grip

geriatric exercise specialists and physiotherapists (search)

You will understand: functional fitness assessment: sft, sppb, tug, gait speed, grip

Why: Clinician-led content; verify the specific video.
Introductory needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Exercise for healthy ageing

geriatric medicine educators (search)

You will understand: why exercise matters in later life

Why: Clinical overview.

Knowledge check

Knowledge check · 0/5

1. SPPB components are…

Answer B. Guralnik et al. (1994).

2. Studenski et al. (2011) found gait speed…

Answer B. Vital sign.

3. EWGSOP2 grip cut-off for women is…

Answer A. Men <27 kg.

4. The TUG measures…

Answer B. Podsiadlo & Richardson (1991).

5. The 30-second chair stand is part of…

Answer B. Rikli & Jones.

Short-answer & application questions

  1. Run the SPPB with a partner.
  2. Interpret a set of results.
  3. Choose a test battery for a frail client.

Key takeaways

  • The Senior Fitness Test assesses strength, aerobic endurance, flexibility and agility.
  • SPPB (balance, gait speed, chair stands) scores 0–12; lower scores indicate poorer function.
  • Gait speed predicts survival; slower than 0.8 m/s indicates poor performance.
  • Grip strength below 27 kg (men) or 16 kg (women) suggests probable sarcopenia.

Connected topics

geriatric fitness

Principles of programming: FITT-VP, progression, periodisation

geriatric fitness

Balance, mobility and fall prevention

assessment

Muscular strength, endurance and power assessments

References

  1. Rikli RE, Jones CJ (2013). Senior Fitness Test Manual (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics. Textbook check pending
  2. Guralnik JM, Simonsick EM, Ferrucci L, et al. (1994). A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function. Journal of Gerontology, 49(2):M85–M94. Classic study check pending
  3. Podsiadlo D, Richardson S (1991). The timed “Up & Go”: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 39(2):142–148. Classic study check pending
  4. Studenski S, Perera S, Patel K, et al. (2011). Gait speed and survival in older adults. JAMA, 305(1):50–58. Cohort check pending
  5. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. (2019). Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age and Ageing, 48(1):16–31. Guideline check pending

Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.