Timed Up and Go Test
Also written as: TUG — Timed Up and Go Test
A standardized clinical mobility assessment in which a patient rises from a chair, walks three metres, turns, walks back, and sits, with performance measured in seconds.
Full Definition
The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is one of the most widely used functional mobility outcome measures in rehabilitation, particularly for older adults and patients post-stroke or post-orthopaedic surgery. It quantifies dynamic balance and walking ability by timing the full sequence of rising, walking, turning, and returning to sitting. Reference norms vary by age and condition, and editors should ensure that the unit of measurement (seconds) is consistently stated. The test name is typically rendered with title case and the abbreviation TUG is standard in clinical documents. Editors should distinguish TUG from the more spatially demanding 6-Minute Walk Test, which assesses endurance rather than functional mobility transitions.
Usage
Usage note: Always express results in seconds. 'TUG test' is considered redundant (the T already stands for 'timed') but is widely accepted in clinical copy; follow house style.
In Context
- "Baseline TUG scores of greater than 13.5 seconds indicated a high fall risk in this cohort." — Clinical research report
- "The editor queried whether the Timed Up and Go Test result should be reported in seconds or as a percentile rank." — Journal manuscript review