A Timed Obstacle “Up & Go” Test to assess the probability of falls in the elderly

Abstract

　No test of physical mobility that involves maneuvering over an obstacle has been developed, although obstacles are a major cause of falls. This study aimed to examine the influence of an obstacle in the pathway of the Timed “Up & Go” test (TUGT) on the test score, according to age and fall history. Seventy one independent healthy older adults (mean age, 68.6) participated. An experienced rater measured two trials of performance by timing the TUGT under the control condition and the obstacle condition in which an obstacle (5cm height, 10cm depth, 1m width) was set at midway through the pathway of the TUGT. Trial-to-trial reliability was examined by intra-class correlation coeffi cient. To examine the infl uence of age or fall history, two-way analysis of variance (age or fall history × obstacle) was performed. In both conditions, the reliability was very high. A signifi cant interaction was found in the age analysis. Participants in their 70s were signifi cantly inferior to those in their 60s and signifi cantly delayed by the obstacle. In conclusion, age-related decline in physical mobility may be assessed more clearly by setting an obstacle in the TUGT.