Get up and go--home.
OBJECTIVE
One of the most important objectives of a rehabilitation program is to improve patients' mobility. Mobility measures are necessary in evaluating treatment effectiveness. The aims of the present study were to assess the usefulness of the "Timed Get Up and Go" (TUG) test as a mobility measure for patients attending a day hospital, and as an additional tool in assisting a multidisciplinary team in clinical decision-making regarding length of stay in a day hospital.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty elderly patients, admitted during 2000, were assessed by the TUG test and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) on admission and at discharge. The patients were divided into four performance categories (TUG score <20; 20.01-40; 40.01-60 and >60 seconds). The sensitivity of the test to changes in patients' mobility level and the relationship between it and other measures were assessed.


RESULTS
Mean TUG score on admission was 32.6+/-24.2 seconds, and upon discharge 21.8+/-18.3 seconds. The difference in score changes between orthopedic patients (14.2 sec), patients with chronic disabling diseases (10.3 sec) and stroke patients (10.1) was statistically significant (p=0.013). On admission, 35.7% performed the TUG test in <20 seconds and upon discharge in 60.9%. A significant negative correlation was found between TUG scores and FIM and motor FIM scores on admission and at discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
The TUG test is a sensitive test for measuring changes in the mobility level of patients attending a day hospital. Easy to carry out, the test furnishes additional information that may assist medical personnel in deciding criteria for discharge readiness.
Hershkovitz
Avital
A
Beit Rivka Geriatric Rehabilitation Center Day Hospital, 4 Hachamisha Street, Petach Tikva 49245, Israel. avitalhe@clalit.org.il
Brill
Shai
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003071:Cognition; D003657:Decision Making; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation