Table of Contents
Timed “Up and Go” Test
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Timed “Up and Go” Test”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Timed “Up and Go” Test
Scale Name
Timed “Up and Go” Test
Author Details
Podsiadlo, D., and Richardson, S.
Translation Availability
English

Background/Description
The Timed “Up and Go” Test (TUG) is a simple, widely used tool to evaluate basic functional mobility and balance in elderly individuals. It measures the time taken by an individual to stand up from a standard chair, walk a short distance, turn, return, and sit down. This test is particularly useful in assessing fall risk and mobility impairments in older adults.
Developed by Podsiadlo and Richardson (1991), the TUG test has become a standard assessment tool in geriatrics and rehabilitation. It provides valuable information about an individual’s functional independence, balance, and strength, making it an essential tool for clinical and research purposes.
The T U G assesses basic mobility (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991). The participant was asked to stand from a seated position, walk three meters, turn around a cone, return to their seat and sit down. A standard chair with arms was used for this test. An investigator demonstrated the test for the participants before their trial. The time was recorded to the nearest 10 of seconds.
The T U G has excellent inter-rater (r=0.99) and test-retest reliability (ICC=0.98) among older adults (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991). In addition, the T U G has good construct validity through correlation with gait speed (r = 0.75), Functional Stair Test (r = 0.59), and performance-based balance measure (Berg Balance Scale, r = -0.76) (Steffen et al., 2002) in an older adult population.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Preparation:
- Use a standard armchair (seat height approximately 46 cm).
- Mark a 3-meter distance on the floor using tape or a visible line.
- Instructions:
- Ask the participant to:
- Sit in the chair with their back against it.
- Stand up when instructed.
- Walk at a comfortable pace to the marked line (3 meters).
- Turn around, walk back, and sit down.
- Ask the participant to:
- Timing:
- Start the stopwatch as soon as the participant starts to stand.
- Stop the stopwatch when they sit down again.
- Scoring Procedures
- Time Recording:
- Measure the time (in seconds) taken to complete the entire task.
- Interpretation:
- <10 seconds: Normal mobility.
- 10-20 seconds: Good mobility, acceptable for most elderly individuals.
- 20 seconds: Mobility problems, potential fall risk.
- Time Recording:
Reliability and Validity
- Reliability:
- High test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.95) across multiple studies.
- Validity:
- Strong correlation with other functional mobility tests, such as the Berg Balance Scale.
- Effectively predicts fall risk and mobility impairments in older adults.
Available Versions
Action Based
Reference
Podsiadlo, D., & Richardson, S. (1991). The timed “Up & Go”: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. Journal of the American geriatrics Society, 39(2), 142-148.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the purpose of the Timed “Up and Go” Test?
The TUG test evaluates functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in elderly individuals or individuals with mobility impairments.
Q2: Can the TUG test be used for non-elderly populations?
Yes, the TUG test can assess functional mobility in individuals recovering from surgery, neurological conditions, or other impairments affecting balance and mobility.
Q3: Is the test difficult to administer?
No, the TUG test is simple, quick, and requires minimal equipment, making it ideal for clinical and home settings.
Q4: How does the TUG test help in clinical practice?
The TUG test identifies individuals at risk of falls, helping clinicians develop targeted interventions to improve mobility and prevent injuries.
Q5: Can assistive devices be used during the TUG test?
Yes, participants may use their regular assistive devices (e.g., canes, walkers), but this should be noted during scoring.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.