Utility of Timed Up and Go in Outpatient Cardiology Clinics

Rehabil Nurs. 2020 Jan/Feb;45(1):39-44. doi: 10.1097/rnj.0000000000000163.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine if the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test would be a feasible, reproducible, and valid measure in patients post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Design: Cross-sectional study, controls and patients post-CABG, outpatient clinic.

Methods: Participants performed the TUG Test and the 6-Minute Walking Distance (6MWD) Test. Reliability was measured within observer on two occasions.

Findings: Patients and controls were similar in age. The patients had greater TUG mean (SD) of 14.4 seconds (4.9 seconds) and lower 6MWD of 358 m (76 m) compared with TUG of 8.2 seconds (2.7 seconds) and 6MWD of 487 m (56 m) in controls. In patients, intraclass correlation for the TUG was .98 (95% CI [.96, .98]) between the measurements. In patients, there was a high correlation between the TUG Test and the 6MWD Test, r = -.70, p < .001.

Conclusion: The TUG Test demonstrated to be a feasible, reproducible, and valid measure in patients post-CABG.

Clinical relevance: The TUG Test could serve as a screening tool for physical performance in clinics.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / organization & administration
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Cardiology / methods*
  • Cardiology / trends
  • Coronary Artery Bypass / adverse effects*
  • Coronary Artery Bypass / methods
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Physical Therapy Modalities / instrumentation
  • Physical Therapy Modalities / standards*
  • Physical Therapy Modalities / statistics & numerical data
  • Prospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Walking / physiology
  • Walking / statistics & numerical data