Introducing a Third Timed Up & Go Test Trial Improves Performances of Hospitalized and Community-Dwelling Older Individuals.
Mette L Bloch, Line R Jønsson, Morten T Kristensen
PMID 26881947WHAT IT FOUND
Hospitalized and community-dwelling older adults were faster on the third Timed Up & Go trial than on the first two.
Use the fastest of three timed trials when assessing mobility.
Key findings
01The third Timed Up & Go trial was significantly faster than the first and second trials.
02The fastest of the 3 trials averaged 21.0 seconds and was significantly faster than the second-slowest trial by 1.9 seconds and the slowest trial by 4.8 seconds.
03The third trial was fastest for 47 participants (57%), the second for 25 participants (31%), and the first for 10 participants (12%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The physical therapists who administered the trials knew the study hypothesis, so their instruction or recording could have influenced performance. The study used only 3 trials, so it cannot show whether a fourth or fifth trial would produce further improvement. Participants had to be able to rise from a chair and perform the TUG, and people with cognitive impairment were excluded, so results do not apply to more impaired older adults. The paper did not test the reliability of these standardized instructions in older individuals without hip fracture. The instructions used 'fast speed' rather than the original 'comfortable pace', so the results may not apply to the original TUG method.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that three trials make the Timed Up & Go test better for predicting falls. This study compared trial times in older adults who could perform the test; it did not show improved fall prediction.