The timed 'Up & Go' is dependent on chair type.
BACKGROUND
The timed 'Up & Go' (TUG) is a performance test identifying problems in functional mobility. More knowledge on how the type of chair used influences test results is needed.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate inter-rater agreement on the time score and to assess if chair type used influenced the performance of the test.


METHODS
(1) Inter-rater agreement investigation on the time score was carried out with elderly individuals living in a retirement home (n = 31). (2) Four types of chairs were tested on elderly individuals in three different health care centres (n = 100).


RESULTS
The two observers were close in timing (mean difference = 0.04 s). From a reference chair the median time for TUG was 15.7 s compared with 16.9 s from a chair with a low seat (p < 0.001). It was significantly more difficult to stand up from a chair without armrests (p < 0.001), and from the lowest chair (p < 0.001), which was also the only chair difficult to sit down on (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The inter-rater agreement of the time scoring of the TUG has been confirmed. Test performance is dependent on chair type; chairs with armrests and a seating height of 44-47 cm should be used. Clinicians must follow standard procedures and equipment when using the test or else risk invalidating test findings.
Siggeirsdóttir
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Icelandic Heart Association, Research Institute, KOPAVOGUR. kristin@hjarta.is
Jónsson
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BY
Jónsson
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H
Iwarsson
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013996:Time and Motion Studies