Timed up and go test

Background

• Used to assess mobility, balance, and risk of falls in the elderly

Procedure

• Patients can use cane/walker if needed
• Start with patient in a chair, and mark a line or turnaround point 3 m away on the floor
• Tell the patient: "When I say 'Go', I want you to stand up from the chair, walk to the line on the floor at your normal pace, turn, walk back to the chair at your normal pace, and sit down again."
• Start the time on the word "Go"
• Stop the time when the patient is sitting back down in the chair

Interpretation

• Less than 10 seconds: normal
• Less than 20 seconds: independent, good functional mobility
• Less than 30 seconds: problematic
• Any score more than 12 to 15 seconds predicts an increased risk of falls
• Also observe: tentative pace, loss of balance, short strides, arm swing, use of walls for steadying, shuffling gait, en bloc turning, etc