Where do healthy older adults take more time during the Timed Up and Go test?

Abstract

[Purpose] We need to regularly evaluate motor function to sustain the health of community-dwelling older adults. Our study aimed to identify the kinematic characteristics of healthy older adults in the Timed Up and Go test because the criteria for assessing the motor function of healthy older adults are unclear in the widely used clinical simple methods. [Participants and Methods] In total, 22 healthy younger and 28 healthy older adults participated in this study. Using a 3D motion analysis system, we measured the time ratios, trajectories, trajectory length per unit time, and body inclination angles during the Timed Up and Go test. We compared the kinematic characteristics of the older and younger adults. [Results] The older adults required a longer time ratio to complete the turn and sit subtasks. The trajectory of the older adults’ turn subtask was longer than that of the younger adults. Older adults’ body inclination angles during the turn subtask were smaller than that of the younger adults. [Conclusion] Healthy older adults had a different kinematic index from younger adults during the Timed Up and Go turn subtask. Therefore, we suggest the kinematic index of posture and turning radius be used to measure Timed Up and Go as a clinically useful index for understanding the motor characteristics of older adults.

Radar-Based Timed Up And Go Test For Multiperson Providing A Risk Of Falling Assessment

“…Without a wearable device technology, we believe that the duration of the TUG sub-tasks using a radar can also be exploited to provide information on the risk of falling, where the elderlies take more time during the test, the motor characteristics, etc. [23][24][25]. As shown in Fig.…”

Perfil epidemiológico e avaliação do risco de queda em idosos usuários da Estratégia Saúde da Família

“…Em contrapartida, estudo realizado com idosos brasileiros, no qual cerca de 30% possuíam queixa de tontura e 50% de desequilíbrio, e de grupo amostral de tamanho semelhante ao deste estudo, não foi constatado prejuízo no desempenho do TUG com o avanço da idade, o que foi justificado pelo tamanho do grupo e por cerca de 75% dos idosos possuírem 75 anos ou mais. Apesar disso, a idade foi associada a um maior número de quedas em indivíduos com queixa de desequilíbrio e queixa de tontura (Kurosawa;Shimazu;Yamamoto, 2020).…”

A Wearable Biofeedback Device to Increase Gait Swing Time Could Have Positive Effects on Gait among Older Adults

“…The timed up-and-go test (TUG), which is a standardized clinical test frequently used in community settings [ 41 , 42 ], was used to inform about older adults’ mobility [ 43 , 44 ]. TUG provides an insight into their locomotion skills [ 45 ].…”