From the Guidelines
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a mobility and fall risk assessment tool where the patient rises from a chair, walks 3 meters, turns around, walks back, and sits down, with a recorded time of >12 seconds associated with increased fall risk. This test is a simple and effective screening tool for assessing mobility, balance, and fall risk in older adults, as described in a 2024 study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1. To perform the test, the patient is instructed to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down, with the time taken to complete this sequence measured. The TUG test evaluates multiple components of mobility, including standing up, walking, turning, and sitting down, which are common activities where falls occur. Key points to consider when using the TUG test include:
- A recorded time of >12 seconds is associated with increased fall risk, as noted in the study 1
- The test requires minimal equipment, such as a chair and a stopwatch, and can be administered in a short amount of time, typically 1-2 minutes
- The TUG test is particularly useful in primary care settings, where it can be used to quickly and effectively assess mobility and fall risk in older adults. For patients with a TUG score greater than 12 seconds, consideration should be given to referring them to a physical therapist for further evaluation and intervention, such as gait training and balance exercises, as part of a broader fall risk assessment and intervention plan 1.
From the Research
Overview of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test
- The TUG test is a widely used clinical tool to assess mobility in elderly people 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- It is a simple, valid, and reliable test that measures the time it takes for an individual to stand up from a chair, walk a short distance, turn around, and return to the chair 2, 3, 4
Components and Variations of the TUG Test
- The traditional TUG test has been modified to include subcomponents, such as the instrumented Time Up and Go (iTUG) test, which uses motion capture technology to analyze movement disorders and fall risk in older adults 2
- Other variations of the TUG test include the use of Doppler radar systems to automate the test and extract additional information from its phases, such as transfer, walk, and turn 3
Predictive Value of the TUG Test
- The TUG test has been shown to be a useful measure for determining the risk of falling in older persons, with a sensitivity of 76.2% and a specificity of 91.1% 4
- The test is also related to executive function, as it requires cognitive resources to complete the transferring and turning components 5
Factors Influencing TUG Test Performance
- TUG performance is influenced by a range of physiological and psychological factors, including lower limb strength, balance, reaction time, vision, pain, cognitive function, and health status 6
- Stepwise multiple regression analyses have identified knee strength, postural sway, reaction time, edge contrast sensitivity, MMSE score, SF12 body pain and general health scores, number of medical conditions, and age as significant and independent predictors of TUG performance 6