What is the Timed Up and Go test?

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a standardized clinical performance measure developed by Podsiadlo and Richardson (1991) to assess functional mobility and fall risk. The patient rises from a standard chair, walks 3 meters (10 feet), turns around, walks back, and sits down. The time in seconds is recorded. It takes less than 5 minutes and requires only a chair, tape measure, and stopwatch.

What TUG score indicates fall risk?

The CDC STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) program uses 12 seconds as the fall risk threshold — patients taking 12 or more seconds are at increased risk for falls. Scores above 20 seconds indicate high fall risk with dependence on assistive devices. Scores under 10 seconds indicate normal functional mobility for community-dwelling older adults.

What is the MCID for the TUG test?

The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for the TUG test is approximately 3.5 seconds for community-dwelling elderly. In patients with Parkinson's disease, the MCID is 3.5 seconds. For hip fracture patients, a change of 4.0 seconds is considered clinically meaningful. Changes smaller than the MCID may represent measurement variability rather than true functional change.

What are the normal TUG test scores by age?

Age-stratified TUG norms for community-dwelling adults: 60-69 years = 8.1 seconds; 70-79 years = 9.2 seconds; 80-89 years = 11.3 seconds; 90+ years = 12.7 seconds. Scores exceeding these norms by more than 2 standard deviations indicate significantly impaired functional mobility for the patient's age group.

What is the Timed Up and Go test?

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a standardized clinical performance measure developed by Podsiadlo and Richardson (1991) to assess functional mobility and fall risk. The patient rises from a standard chair, walks 3 meters (10 feet), turns around, walks back, and sits down. The time in seconds is recorded. It takes less than 5 minutes and requires only a chair, tape measure, and stopwatch.

What TUG score indicates fall risk?

The CDC STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) program uses 12 seconds as the fall risk threshold — patients taking 12 or more seconds are at increased risk for falls. Scores above 20 seconds indicate high fall risk with dependence on assistive devices. Scores under 10 seconds indicate normal functional mobility for community-dwelling older adults.

What is the MCID for the TUG test?

The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for the TUG test is approximately 3.5 seconds for community-dwelling elderly. In patients with Parkinson's disease, the MCID is 3.5 seconds. For hip fracture patients, a change of 4.0 seconds is considered clinically meaningful. Changes smaller than the MCID may represent measurement variability rather than true functional change.

What are the normal TUG test scores by age?

Age-stratified TUG norms for community-dwelling adults: 60-69 years = 8.1 seconds; 70-79 years = 9.2 seconds; 80-89 years = 11.3 seconds; 90+ years = 12.7 seconds. Scores exceeding these norms by more than 2 standard deviations indicate significantly impaired functional mobility for the patient's age group.

Geriatric Mobility · Fall Risk · CDC STEADI Endorsed

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test Calculator

Built-in stopwatch with CDC STEADI fall risk thresholds, age-stratified normative data, MCID tracking, and EMR-ready documentation. The most widely used geriatric fall risk screening tool.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Nikhil Mahajan, PT, MPT · Jan 15, 2025

Standard TUG Protocol (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991)

Patient starts fully seated in a standard armchair with back against the chair and arms on armrests
On the command 'Go,' the patient stands up and walks at a comfortable, safe pace toward a cone or line 3 meters (10 feet) away
The patient turns around the cone and walks back to the chair
The patient turns and sits back down — timer stops when the patient is fully seated
Record the time to the nearest 0.01 second — allow one practice trial before recording
Patient should use their regular assistive device (cane, walker) if applicable — document device used

0.00 seconds

Press START when you say "Go." Press STOP when patient is fully seated again.

Patient Age Group

Assistive Device

Footwear

Recorded Time (seconds)

MCID Progress Tracker Optional

Enter a previous TUG time to check if improvement exceeds the 3.5-second MCID

Previous TUG Time (s)

Assessment Date

TUG Normative Data — Age-Stratified Reference

Age Group	Mean (seconds)	Standard Deviation	Clinical Note
60–69 years	8.1s	± 2.0s	Community-dwelling adults — normal functional mobility
70–79 years	9.2s	± 2.8s	Community-dwelling adults — normal functional mobility
80–89 years	11.3s	± 3.4s	Community-dwelling adults — normal functional mobility
90+ years	12.7s	± 4.6s	Community-dwelling adults — normal functional mobility
≥ 12 seconds		CDC STEADI fall risk threshold — independent of age

TUG Risk Stratification

Risk Level	Time Range	Clinical Description
Low Risk	< 10 seconds	Normal functional mobility — community ambulatory
Moderate Risk	10 – 19 seconds	Some mobility impairment — fall risk present
High Risk	≥ 20 seconds	Significant impairment — dependent on device, high fall risk

What is the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test?

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a simple, quick, and widely validated clinical measure of functional mobility developed by Podsiadlo and Richardson (1991) — based on the original "Get Up and Go" test by Mathias et al. (1986). The TUG requires the patient to stand from a seated position, walk 3 meters (approximately 10 feet), turn around, walk back, and sit down — with the entire sequence timed in seconds. It is the most widely used functional mobility and fall risk screening tool globally, endorsed by the CDC STEADI program, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), and recommended as a first-line fall risk screen in primary care, geriatrics, and physical therapy.

CDC STEADI Fall Risk Threshold — 12 Seconds

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) initiative established 12 seconds as the primary fall risk threshold for the TUG test. Older adults completing the TUG in 12 or more seconds have a significantly elevated risk of falls and require comprehensive fall risk assessment and intervention. This 12-second threshold has been validated across multiple community-dwelling older adult populations in the United States.

TUG Normative Data by Age

Published normative values for community-dwelling older adults (Bohannon, 2006; Steffen et al., 2002):

60–69 years: Mean = 8.1 seconds (±2.0s) — most 60-year-olds complete in under 10 seconds
70–79 years: Mean = 9.2 seconds (±2.8s) — slight increase reflecting normal aging
80–89 years: Mean = 11.3 seconds (±3.4s) — approaching CDC threshold; careful monitoring needed
90+ years: Mean = 12.7 seconds (±4.6s) — most nonagenarians at or above CDC threshold

Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID)

The MCID for the TUG test is approximately 3.5 seconds for community-dwelling elderly based on Wright et al. (2011). A reduction of 3.5 or more seconds between serial assessments indicates clinically meaningful improvement in functional mobility beyond measurement variability. Disease-specific MCIDs: Parkinson's disease = 3.5 seconds; post-hip fracture = 4.0 seconds; total knee arthroplasty = 2.5 seconds.

Clinical Applications

Primary care fall risk screening — CDC STEADI recommends TUG at every annual wellness visit for patients 65 and older
Post-surgical mobility assessment — Baseline and discharge documentation after hip and knee arthroplasty, hip fracture repair, lumbar surgery
Parkinson's disease monitoring — Sensitive to medication effects and disease progression; administer at each visit in ON and OFF states
Stroke rehabilitation — Functional mobility tracking throughout inpatient and outpatient PT
COPD and cardiac rehabilitation — Functional mobility component of cardiopulmonary assessment
Cognitive impairment screening — TUG Cognitive (TUG-C) version adds dual-task counting for dementia risk stratification
Insurance authorization — Many US payers require TUG documentation for home health, skilled nursing, and outpatient PT authorization

TUG Variants

TUG Cognitive (TUG-C): Patient counts backward from 100 by 3s while performing the TUG. Adds cognitive-motor dual-task demand — predicts dementia risk when significantly slower than standard TUG.
TUG Manual (TUG-M): Patient carries a full cup of water during the TUG, assessing attention and postural stability during a manual dual-task.
3-meter TUG (standard): The internationally validated protocol used in research and clinical practice.

TUG vs Other Functional Mobility Measures

vs Berg Balance Scale: BBS assesses 14 balance tasks over 15–20 minutes; TUG requires 5 minutes. BBS provides more comprehensive balance assessment; TUG is the preferred quick screen for fall risk stratification.
vs Gait Speed Test (10-Meter Walk Test): Gait Speed measures walking velocity only; TUG assesses transfers, turning, and walking combined. Both are complementary — gait speed alone can miss transfer deficits that the TUG captures.
vs Functional Reach Test: FRT measures static anterior reach; TUG measures dynamic functional mobility. Use TUG for community ambulators; FRT for chair-bound or severely impaired patients.
vs 6-Minute Walk Test: 6MWT measures aerobic endurance and walking capacity; TUG measures functional mobility speed. TUG for fall risk; 6MWT for endurance and cardiopulmonary capacity.

Dr. Nikhil Mahajan, PT, MPT Doctor of Physical Therapy · Reviewed January 15, 2025 · View full credentials

Frequently Asked Questions

How many practice trials are allowed before recording?

The standard TUG protocol allows one practice trial to familiarize the patient with the task, followed by the official timed trial. Some protocols use the best of two or three trials — document your protocol consistently for serial comparison. The practice trial should be identical to the official trial in terms of assistive device use, footwear, and walking distance.

Should the patient use their regular walking aid during the TUG?

Yes — the patient must use their regular assistive device (cane, walker, forearm crutches) during the TUG. This reflects their real-world functional mobility. Always document the device used. Do not alter the patient's normal device for testing purposes — this would make the result non-representative of daily function.

What chair should be used for the TUG test?

Use a standard armchair with a seat height of approximately 46 cm (18 inches) — this is the height the original TUG was validated with. The patient should start with their back against the chair back and arms resting on the armrests. Armrests must be present since the patient may use them to push up. Do not use chairs with wheels or unstable surfaces.

Is the TUG test reliable and valid?

The TUG has excellent psychometric properties: test-retest reliability ICC = 0.98 (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991); interrater reliability ICC = 0.99; strong concurrent validity with the Berg Balance Scale (r = -0.72), gait speed (r = -0.61), and Barthel Index (r = -0.78). It predicts falls in community-dwelling elderly with a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 87% at the 12-second threshold.