Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

Original Editor - David Csepe

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Objective[edit | edit source]

To determine fall risk and measure the progress of balance, sit to stand and walking.

Intended Population[edit | edit source]

This test was initially designed for elderly persons, but is used for people with:

  • Following a CVA
  • Following routine orthopaedic surgery i.e. TKR or THR
  • and others conditions

Method of Use[edit | edit source]

Materials Needed:[edit | edit source]

One chair with armrest

Stopwatch

Tape (to mark 3 meters)

Method:[edit | edit source]

  1. The patient starts in a seated position
  2. The patient stands up upon therapist’s command: walks 3 meters, turns around, walks back to the chair and sits down.
  3. The time stops when the patient is seated.
  4. The subject is allowed to use an assistive device. Be sure to document the assistive device used.

NOTE:

A practice trial should be completed before the timed trial

Cut-off time for high risk of falls:[edit | edit source]

Cut-off times to classify subjects as high risk for falling vary based on the study and participants.

If a patient took 14 seconds or longer he or she was classified as high-risk for falling.[1]


Example score sheet TUG score sheet

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Reliability[edit | edit source]

Intratester and intertester reliability (ICC) have been reported as high, in elderly populations, from .92-.99.[2]

However, reliability in community-dwelling populations has been found to be moderate (.56).[2]

In people with Alzheimers disease reliability is high (ICC = .985-.988).[3]

An ICC of 0.80 for subjects with Parkinson's Disease was found.[4]

Validity[edit | edit source]

Construct validity has been shown by correlating TUG scores with gait speed (Pearson r = .75), postural sway (Pearson r = -.48), step length (Pearson r = -.74), Barthel Index (Pearson r = -.79), and step frequency (Pearson r = -.59).[2]

Sensitivity and Specificity[edit | edit source]

The sensitivity and specificity have been reported to be 87%[1].

Minimally Detectable Change (MDC)[edit | edit source]

The MDC was 4.09 seconds in patients with Alzheimers. In patients with Parkinson's the MDC was 3.5 seconds.

One study aimed to calculate the minimal detectable change (MDC) for a range of measures used in amputee rehab. The MDC was presented in absolute values for:[5]

Benefits[edit | edit source]

  • Quick to conduct
  • Minimal equipment required
  • Highly reliable and valid
  • Provides useful outcomes related to reduced falls risk

Negatives[edit | edit source]

  • Unable to predict falls in the community[6]
  • Test re-test user error can be high

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shumway-Cook A, Brauer S, Woollacott M. Predicting the probability for falls in community-dwelling older adults using the timed up & go test. Phys Ther. 2000;80(9):896-903.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Steffen T, Hacker T, Mollinger L. Age- and gender-related test performance in community-dwelling elderly people: six-minute walk test, berg balance scale, timed up go test, and gait speeds. Phys Ther. 2002;82(2):128-137.
  3. ↑ Ries J, Echternach J, Nof L, Blodgett M. Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change scores for the timed "up go" test, the six-minute walk test, and gait speed in people with alzheimer disease. Phys Ther. 2009;89(6):569-579.
  4. ↑ Huang S, Hsieh C, Wu R, Tai C, Lin C, Lu W. Minimal detectable change of the timed "up go" test and the dynamic gait index in people with parkinson disease. Phys Ther. 2011;91(1):114-121.
  5. ↑ Resnik L, Borgia M. Reliability of outcome measures for people with lower-limb amputations: distinguishing true change from statistical error. Physical therapy. 2011 Apr 1;91(4):555-65.
  6. ↑ Barry E, Galvin R, Keogh C, Horgan F, Fahey T. Is the Timed Up and Go test a useful predictor of risk of falls in community dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC geriatrics. 2014 Dec;14(1):14.
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