If he or she scores less than 6 or 7, this indicates limited functional balance. The results help assess a patient's stability level. The initial reading is subtracted from the final to obtain the functional reach score. Over the course of therapy, it is expected that the time the patient takes to complete the TUG test will decrease as the patient improves. The therapist takes a reading on the yardstick of the farthest reach attained by the patient without them taking a step.
17 When used in an acute care setting, this test can objectively demonstrate improvements in balance and ambulation.
16Īdditionally, patients who have undergone hip fracture surgery and are discharged from the acute care setting with a TUG score of 24 seconds or more are more likely to fall in the next 6 months than are patients with scores of less than 24 seconds. Patients who are unable to complete the TUG test for nonphysical reasons (including refusal or inability to follow instructions ) appear to have higher rates of falling as compared to patients who are unable to do the TUG test for physical reasons (inability to sit, stand, or walk independently, or with standby assistance). The ability or inability to complete the TUG test helps to stratify patients according to their fall risk. Therefore it is important to periodically perform this test over the course of a patient’s physical therapy intervention to allow for comparison to baseline results.Īs described in Table 23-2, when compared to other functional tests (i.e., BBS), with regard to balance testing, the TUG test is a consistent test of the balance characteristics in this population.
15 The time needed to complete the test may improve for many reasons, including: (1) altering the use of an assistive device, (2) actual change in function, and (3) increased familiarity of the test, or a combination of these. Test completion in fewer than 20 seconds indicates that the patient is independent with functional mobility.