Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Physiotherapy Department, KM Patel Institute of Physiotherapy, Shree Krishna Hospital, Anand
2 Physiotherapist, NCD Cell, CHC‑Charada, Mansa, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 3Physiotherapist, Private Practitioner, Hyderabad, India
3 Physiotherapist, Private Practitioner, Hyderabad, India
Abstract
CONTEXT: Timed up‑and‑go (TUG) test is a valid, reliable, and an objective test for quantifying
functional mobility and assessing the fall risk in all age groups. The analysis of patient scores on
TUG test is limited by lack of data, having a wide range of performance scores among people without
disabilities.
AIM: The objective of the study was to provide the reference value for TUG test in healthy individuals
of Gujarat, India.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: It was a cross‑sectional observational study. Five hundred and twenty
healthy individuals, aged 40–70 years, were recruited from various regions of Gujarat based on
convenient sampling. All the participants were made to perform TUG test in a controlled environment
in community. Three readings of the actual test were obtained and averaged.
RESULTS: Data were analyzed with mean, standard deviation, confidence intervals (CIs 95%) and
Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) with α = 0.05 by age groups (40–50, 51–60, and 61–70 years)
and gender. The mean (CI 95%) TUG time for healthy adults of Gujarat was 8.46 (8.35–8.57) s and
demonstrated age‑related decline for both male and female participants. TUG time also demonstrated
strong correlation with the height of individuals.
CONCLUSION: This preliminary data can be used as a reference only for specific population with
specific age groups due to variability in test results among the different population due to age, gender,
anthropometric measures such as height, weight, and body mass index, geographical variation,
nutritional support, and cognitive status.
Keywords
functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc
1991;39:142‑8.
2. Colón‑Emeric CS, Liang BA. Falls in older adults: Assessment
and intervention in primary care. Hosp Phys 2002;38:55‑66.
3. Steffen TM, Hacker TA, Mollinger L. Age‑ and gender‑related test
performance in community‑dwelling elderly people: Six‑minute
walk test, berg balance scale, timed up and amp; go test, and gait
speeds. Phys Ther 2002;82:128‑37.
4. Pondal M, del Ser T. Normative data and determinants for the
timed “up and go” test in a population‑based sample of elderly
individuals without gait disturbances. J Geriatr Phys Ther
2008;31:57‑63.
5. Nicolini‑Panisson RD, Donadio MV. Timed “Up & go” test in
children and adolescents. Rev Paul Pediatr 2013;31:377‑83.
6. 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;80:896‑903.7. Drootin M; Panel on Prevention of Falls in Older Persons,
American Geriatrics Society and British Geriatrics Society.
Summary of the Updated American Geriatrics Society/British
Geriatrics Society clinical practice guideline for prevention of
falls in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 2011;59:148‑57.
8. Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE UK. The Assessment and
Prevention of Falls in Older People; 2013. Available from: http://
www.nice.org.uk/CG161, [Last accessed on 2018 Jan 28].
9. Eagles D, Perry JJ, Sirois MJ, Lang E, Daoust R, Lee J, et al. Timed
up and go predicts functional decline in older patients presenting
to the emergency department following minor trauma. Age
Ageing 2017;46:214‑8.
10. Newton RA. Balance screening of an inner city older adult
population. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1997;78:587‑91.
11. Herman T, Giladi N, Hausdorff JM. Properties of the ‘timed up
& go’ test: More than meets the eye. Gerontology 2011;57:203‑10.
12. Kamide N, Takahashi K, Shiba Y. Reference values for the timed
up and go test in healthy Japanese elderly people: Determination
using the methodology of meta‑analysis. Geriatr Gerontol Int
2011;11:445‑51.
13. Bohannon RW. Reference values for the timed up and go test:
A descriptive meta‑analysis. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2006;29:64‑8.
14. Hughes C. Relationship among performance on stair ambulation,
functional reach, and timed up and go tests in older adults. Issues
Aging 1998;21:18‑22.
15. Beauchet O, Fantino B, Allali G, Muir SW, Montero‑Odasso M,
Annweiler C, et al. Timed up and go test and risk of falls in older
adults: A systematic review. J Nutr Health Aging 2011;15:933‑8.
16. Balogun JA, Akindele KA, Nihinlola JO, Marzouk DK.
Age‑related changes in balance performance. Disabil Rehabil
1994;16:58‑62.
17. Medley A, Thompson M. The effect of assistive devices on the
performance of community dwelling elderly on the timed up and
go test. Issues Aging 1997;20:e7.
18. Elble RJ, Thomas SS, Higgins C, Colliver J. Stride‑dependent
changes in gait of older people. J Neurol 1991;238:1‑5.
19. Southard V, Dave A, Douris P. Êxploring the role of body mass
index on balance reactions and gait in overweight sedentary
middle‑aged adults: A pilot study. J Prim Care Community Health
2010;1:178‑83.
20. Kang L, Han P, Wang J, Ma Y, Jia L, Fu L, et al. Timed up and
go test can predict recurrent falls: A longitudinal study of
the community‑dwelling elderly in China. Clin Interv Aging
2017;12:2009‑16
)