# Sit to stand is a new reliable method for assessing strength, power, and velocity exercise in adult pediatric cancer survivors

## TL;DR

A new reliable method called sit-to-stand is introduced to assess strength, power, and velocity in cancer survivors.

## Contribution

The 5-STS test with a functional electromechanical dynamometer is shown to be a reliable and safe alternative to maximal strength tests.

## Key findings

- The 5-STS test with 5% and 20% body weight showed very high reliability for measuring force, power, and velocity.
- Significant differences in load-velocity profiles were found based on sex.
- The test offers precise intensity control for tailored rehabilitation programs.

## Abstract

We aimed to analyze the intra-set reliability of 5 sit-to-stand (5-STS) exercises with a functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD) and to determine and compare the load-velocity (L-V) profile in the STS exercise in adult pediatric cancer survivors by sex, age, body mass index, and type and treatment of cancer.

A total of 47 participants performed the 5-STS test with 5% and 20% body weight (BW) to assess intrasession reliability and analyze differences in L-V profiles by sex, age, BMI, and type and treatment of cancer.

Very high and extremely high relative reliability was found for both the 5% STS (ICC = 0.80–0.94) and the 20% STS (ICC = 0.87–0.95) relate to average and peak force, power, and velocity. Regarding L-V profiles, significant differences were only found in relation to sex for the velocity-axis intercept and area under the line (p < 0.05).

The 5-STS test with a load of 5% and 20% of BW using a FEMD is a reliable method for assessing strength, power, and velocity exercise in adult pediatric cancer survivors. There was a relation to sex for the variables of L-V profile.

Reliable assessments of muscular strength, like the 5-STS test using FEMD, offer a safer, less demanding alternative to maximal strength tests (e.g., 1RM), enabling precise intensity control and better-tailored rehabilitation programs.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-025-06225-7.