It is thus clear that specific aspects of the TUG test help distinguish fallers whilst other aspects relate more to age or to fear of falling. However elderly fallers were distinguished by choosing a wider stance during standing (18.1cm SEM 1.4 fallers, 14.5cm SEM 0.5 elderly, 14.3cm SEM 0.8 young). Regression of the sit to stand transition (S2S) at the start of the TUG test showed a strong and roughly equal contribution to TUG times in all groups (R 0.73 fallers, 0.55 elderly, 0.52 young), S2S being about 10% of the TUG time. Young subjects showed only very small variance in confidence. A regression of TUG times against the ABC balance confidence scale showed an equal increase in TUG times with decreasing confidence with both the elderly and elderly fallers but accounting for only a minor part of variance of TUG times (R 0.27 and 0.34 respectively). These changes were related mainly to changes in the stride length rather than cadence. TUG times were progressively slower in the elderly fallers (12.3s SEM 1.0) compared to the elderly (9.2s SE 0.3) and the young subjects (7.7s SEM 0.2). The test was undertaken five times by each subject with data averaged from the last three. The TUG test was completed in a laboratory setting and was measured by CODA mpx30 (Charnwood Dynamics, UK) 3D motion analysis. Our study compared 34 young subjects (mean 28 SD 10 years) 43 elderly subjects (72 SD 5) and 20 elderly fallers (75 SD 4, who self-reported an average of 1.8 trips in the previous year).
Clinically, the test has both high sensitivity and high selectivity with TUG times of greater than 14 seconds being associated with a high risk of falling for older adults living in the community (Shumway-Cook et al., 2000 – but note recent dissent from the Tromso study: Thrane, 2007). The subject has to stand up from a chair, walk round an object 3 metres in front of the chair and sit again. The TUG test is widely used in the clinical assessment of postural stability – with some health authorities asking for an annual assessment for all patients over 65. The Physiological Society’s blue plaques.The use of animals in educating the next generation of life science researchers.The Future of Interdisciplinary Research Beyond REF 2021.Sport & Exercise Science Education report.A National Post-Pandemic Resilience Programme.Supporting the development of public health guidance for long COVID.Translating Knowledge and Research into Impact.Preparing your research grant application.Advice for attending your first meeting.Early Career Life Scientists’ Symposium.Michael J Rennie Oral Communication Prize.The Journal of Physiology Early Investigator Prize.Experimental Physiology Inaugural Review Prize.Experimental Physiology Mid-Career Researcher Prize.Experimental Physiology Early Career Author Prize.The Otto Hutter Physiology Teaching Prize.Grants programme – Frequently Asked Questions.The Journal of Physiology’s Virtual Journal Club.Membership Category and Fee Changes – FAQs.Human, Environmental & Exercise Physiology.Environmental Impacts on Pregnancy and Offspring Outcomes: Lessons Learned and Avenues for Intervention