Does The Timed Up And Go Test Reflect Physical Activity And Function In Community Dwelling Older Adults? Results From The SENIOR Project

Abstract

PURPOSE To compare the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) with self reported physical activity behavior and health status in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS 1277 community dwelling older adult volunteers for the SENIOR Project [Age: 75.4 ± 6.6 (range 61–97) years, 69.4% female] underwent measurement at baseline of TUG, Stages of Change for Exercise, and Health status [Medical Health Outcomes Questionnaire (SF-36)]. RESULTS TUG ranged from 7–104 (Mean 9.3 ± 5.6) seconds. 3.5 % of subjects had abnormal TUG based on the absolute criteria of ≥ 20 seconds (0.6 % of men and 2.8 % of women). TUG was higher in older age groups, and older elders were more likely to have abnormal TUG scores compared to younger elders (p = 0.001). TUG was inversely related to General Health Score on the SF-36 (r = −0.289; p ± 0.0001) and General Health explained 9% of the variance in TUG performance times. Elders with abnormal TUG had poorer General Health (52.9 vs. 72.4; p <0.0001), Physical Function (61.5 vs. 70.9; p = 0.024), and Role Physical (19.2 vs. 70.3; p< 0.0001) subscale scores on the SF-36. TUG was significantly longer in persons in the pre-action stages compared with the action stages of change (10.8 vs. 9.8 seconds; p <0.0001). CONCLUSION TUG reflects stages of change for exercise, and self-reported health status (general, physical function, role physical) in community dwelling older adults.