The strength in the lower limbs is recognized as a strong predictor of functional limitations in the elderly (Hyatt, Whitelaw, Bhat, Scott, & Maxwell, 1990), both institutionalized (Bassey et al., 1992; Fukagawa, Wolfson, Judge, Whipple, & King, 1995; Rantanen, Guralnik, Ferrucci, Leveille, & Fried, 1999) as those who live independently in the community (Foldvari et al., 2000; Gross, Stevenson, Charette, Pyka, & Marcus, 1998). As an overall physical capacity strength is of great importance to the functional performance of older people, but the power, in particular, has been showing evidence of being even more significant in predicting the limitations in mobility and consequent functional disability of the elderly (Puthoff & Nielsen, 2007; Skelton,
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Based on the Calf-raise test (CRT) or heel-rise test (HRT), a commonly used assessment tool for evaluation of the ankle functionality (Hebert-Losier, Newsham-West, Schneiders, & Sullivan, 2009), this test was adapted to be administered in groups of seniors. The CRS provides a standardized test protocol which involves bilateral movements of lifting / lowering the heels, with the greatest possible speed, estimating as the final result the correct repetitions obtained in 30 seconds. In Andre et al. (2016) study the CRS test showed strong associations with strength tests (isometric, r = 0.87, r2 = 0.75; isokinetic, r = 0.86, r2 = 0.74; and rate of force development, r = 0.77, r2 = 0.59), thereby ensuring its criterion validity. This test also demonstrated to be able to distinguish subjects who presented high levels of functional activity and physical fitness, and further, to reflect the expected declines in performance with increasing age. In addition of these findings CRS test showed an excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.90, SEM = 2.0) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.93-0.96), along with a good intra-rater reliability (ICC =
Based on the Calf-raise test (CRT) or heel-rise test (HRT), a commonly used assessment tool for evaluation of the ankle functionality (Hebert-Losier, Newsham-West, Schneiders, & Sullivan, 2009), this test was adapted to be administered in groups of seniors. The CRS provides a standardized test protocol which involves bilateral movements of lifting / lowering the heels, with the greatest possible speed, estimating as the final result the correct repetitions obtained in 30 seconds. In Andre et al. (2016) study the CRS test showed strong associations with strength tests (isometric, r = 0.87, r2 = 0.75; isokinetic, r = 0.86, r2 = 0.74; and rate of force development, r = 0.77, r2 = 0.59), thereby ensuring its criterion validity. This test also demonstrated to be able to distinguish subjects who presented high levels of functional activity and physical fitness, and further, to reflect the expected declines in performance with increasing age. In addition of these findings CRS test showed an excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.90, SEM = 2.0) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.93-0.96), along with a good intra-rater reliability (ICC =