Performance of Individuals with Parkinsonʼs Disease on the Timed Up & Go

Abstract

Purpose: The study's purposes were to collect initial performance data on the Timed Up and Go (TUG) for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), compare individuals with and without PD, determine the relationship between an individual's Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) score and TUG time, and determine what combination of factors best predict TUG times for people with PD. The TUG measures the time required to stand from an armchair, walk 3 meters, return to the chair, and sit. The H&Y is a five-stage rating scale used to assess patients with PD. Methods: In a matched pair design, TUG scores of 33 subjects with PD (H&Y I-III) were matched on selected variables with subjects without PD. Data analysis included t-test, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression. Results: Individuals with PD performed the TUG significantly slower than the control group. The TUG discriminated between those with minimal unilateral or bilateral involvement and those with more severe Parkinson's symptoms. Regression analysis revealed that the best single predictor of TUG time was H&Y rating (r2=.6845). The H&Y rating and assistive device explained 73% of the variance in TUG time. Conclusions: The TUG detected the presence of limitations in functional mobility in a small sample of patients with PD.