Fig. 1

Progression model for loaded sit-to-stand exercise (STAND). The starting point in STAND in the first session was level 5. The patient was seated in a standard chair with armrests with the feet on the floor at shoulder-width apart and arms crossed at the wrist with the hands placed on the opposite shoulder. The patient was asked to rise to a fully extended position and to sit down at a constant pace and was encouraged verbally to perform as many repetitions as possible. The supervising physiotherapist ensured that each set of the exercise was performed at a level of the model ensuring 8–12 repetition maximum (RM). If extra weight was needed, a weight vest (Titan Box, 1–30 kg) was used. STS, 30-s sit-to-stand test. The stick art is the author’s own work and was published for the first time in Pedersen et al. PeerJ (2015) 3:e1500; DOI 10.7717/peerj.1500in and subsequently in Pedersen et al. Trials (2016) 17:176)