Outcome Measures > Activity > Mobility > Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 12:12
  • A test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons (Mathias et al. 1986).
  • Is a timed walking test designed to measure gait performance and balance.  

Number of items: N/a

Procedure/Administration: The individual is instructed to stand up from an arm chair, walk 3 meters, return to the chair and sit down at their preferred walking speed.

How scored:

Time for ‘Up and Go’ test:  _________sec.

Unstable on turning?  Y/N

Walking aid used?  Y/N  Type of aid: ______________

Interpretability: N/a

Acceptability: The test is not suitable for many individuals with SCI.

Languages: N/a

Usability: N/a

Time to administer: N/a

Time to score: N/a

Training required: Does not require any special training.

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: N/a

Summary:

  • Discriminates balance and ambulatory function between patients and evaluate change over time in a single patient.
  • The TUG is a quick and easy test to administer and can be done in any setting (i.e. clinical setting or community). The task is very functional and incorporates mobility, balance and lower extremity leg strength. 
  • TUG appears to be a very useful measure for individuals with incomplete SCI who have lower extremity function and provides some information on a basic mobility task.  

Psychometric Summary:

Reliability

Validity

Responsiveness

Results

Results

Results

Floor/ceiling

TR< 40 sec & Inter O< 40 sec: Green light

 

TR>40 sec & Inter O>40 sec : Green light

Construct: Green light

N/a

N/a

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

References

  • Mathias S, Nayak US, Isaacs B. Balance in elderly patients: the “get-up and go” test. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1986;67:387-389.
  • van Hedel HJA Wirz M, Dietz V. Assessing walking ability in subjects with spinal cord injury: validity and reliability of 3 walking tests. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:190-196.