Could you be losing muscle?
A two-minute check: one simple chair test and five everyday strength and mobility questions. No tape, scale or device needed.
Step 1 · Test
Five-times chair-stand
How to do it safely: Use a firm, standard-height chair placed against a wall. Sit with arms folded across your chest. Stand fully and sit down five times as quickly and safely as possible. Stop if you feel pain, dizziness or unsafe. If you must use your arms or cannot complete five repetitions, say so below.
Built-in timer
0.0 sec
Step 2 · Answer
Five quick function questions
Choose the answer that reflects your usual ability — not just how you feel today.
1. Strength
How difficult is it to lift and carry about 5 kg?
2. Walking
How difficult is it to walk across a room?
3. Rising from a chair
How difficult is it to rise from a chair or bed?
4. Climbing stairs
How difficult is it to climb a flight of 10 stairs?
5. Falls
How many times have you fallen in the past year?
Clinical safety note
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Sarcopenia requires confirmation with objective muscle strength and muscle-mass assessment. Do not attempt the chair test without nearby support if you are unsteady. Seek clinical review for rapid unexplained weakness, repeated falls, marked weight loss or loss of independence.
Method
Why these inputs?
This check combines the validated five-item SARC-F questionnaire with the five-times chair-stand test. A SARC-F score of 4 or more is a positive case-finding screen. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia uses 12 seconds or more for five chair stands as low physical performance; needing the arms or being unable to complete is also treated as a positive strength/function signal.