Falls Prevention: The Balance For Life Program

Older Adult   Professional   Volunteer

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Information for the Professional

The Timed Get Up and Go (TUG)

1. Ask the patient to sit comfortably in the chair
2. Ask patient to stand up by stating, “Ready, set, go” and begin timing
3. Patient walks ten feet
4. Patient then turns around and returns to chair
5. When patient sits down, stop timing

Allow them to practice once. Then time them three times. The average score should determine level of risk. Patient should wear eyeglasses and use assistive devices (cane, walker, etc.) if applicable.

If the patient takes 13.5 seconds or longer to walk ten feet, then the patient is at risk of falling and would benefit from a full assessment by a physical therapist.<sup>[1][2]


1</sup> Shumway-Cook A, Brauer S, Woollacott M. Predicting the probability for falls in community-dwelling older adults using the Timed "Up & Go" Test. Phys Ther. 2000;80:896–903.
² Dite W, Temple VA. A clinical test of stepping and change of direction to identify multiple falling older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002;83:1566–1571.

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For more information, please contact Lale Gerger at 904-390-3224 or LaleG@uwnefl.org