Abstract
Objective
To examine the validity of the timed Up and Go (TUG) test as a measure of functional
mobility in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) by using a comprehensive framework
based on construct validity (ie, convergent and divergent validity).
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
Hospital setting.
Participants
Community-residing persons with MS (N=47).
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Main outcome measures included the TUG test, timed 25-foot walk test, 6-minute walk
test, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12, Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument,
posturography evaluation, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, Symbol Digits
Modalities Test, Expanded Disability Status Scale, and the number of steps taken per
day.
Results
The TUG test was strongly associated with other valid outcome measures of ambulatory
mobility (Spearman rank correlation, rs=.71–.90) and disability status (rs=.80), moderately to strongly associated with balance confidence (rs=.66), and weakly associated with postural control (ie, balance) (rs=.31). The TUG test was moderately associated with cognitive processing speed (rs=.59), but not associated with other nonambulatory measures (ie, Late-Life Function
and Disability Instrument-upper extremity function).
Conclusions
Our findings support the validity of the TUG test as a measure of functional mobility.
This warrants its inclusion in patients' assessment alongside other valid measures
of functional mobility in both clinical and research practice in persons with MS.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
6MWT (6-minute walk test), ABC (Activities-specific Balance Confidence), ALEF (advanced lower extremity function), BLEF (basic lower extremity function), EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), FM (functional mobility), FS (functional systems), LL-FDI (Late-life Function and Disability Instrument), MS (multiple sclerosis), MSWS-12 (Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12), SDMT (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), T25FW (timed 25-foot walk), TUG (timed Up and Go), UEF (upper extremity function)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 01, 2016
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
