Timed Up and Go Test Performance as an Indicator of Fall History in Institutionalized Elderly: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Ageing is associated with sensory and physical declines and falling risk. Objective: To determine the association between 3 performance-based mobility tests and fall history. Methods: Fifty participants' mobility was assessed by Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 4- and 6-m walking tests (WT). Results: The TUG performance correlated with 4- and 6-m WT performance, and performance on 4-m WT positively correlated with 6-m WT. Only TUG performance showed a strong relationship to fall history. Conclusions: Performance tests could indicate the presence of fall history in the institutionalized older adults; the TUG being the most suitable compared with other common WT.