Timed Up and Go Test Calculator
TUG seconds to mobility band and next step.
What it does
Falls topple independence faster than almost anything in later years, and one timed test flags risk early. The Timed Up and Go compresses rising, walking, turning, and sitting into seconds. Twelve seconds splits watch from workup.
The tool above bands any TUG time into normal, watch, or at-risk with a plain next step. Run the standard 3-meter course in usual footwear, enter seconds, and follow the action from yearly retests to clinician reviews.
CDC STEADI fall-prevention resources carry the 12-second action line with balance, medication, vision, and home-hazard follow-ups. Geriatrics guidance pairs the clock with strength training and hazard fixes rather than fear.
Test yearly, act on slowdowns, and retest after the plan. Clearing cords, fixing rails, reviewing dizzying meds, and building leg strength turn a scary number into a managed one.
How to use
- Set a 3-meter course with a standard chair.
- Time rise, walk, turn, return, and sit.
- Enter the seconds.
- Read the mobility band.
- Follow the action step.
- Retest yearly or after falls.
Formula
- TUG time
- Seconds to rise, walk 3 m, return, and sit.
Cutoffs follow CDC STEADI fall-risk guidance with the 12-second action line. Times need a standard 3-meter course and usual footwear or aid. Single times screen; trends and exams decide.
Worked example
Example: 13.5 seconds
TUG test completed in 13.5 seconds.
- Older adult rises, walks 3 meters, returns, sits: 13.5 s.
- Band: 12 s and up reads At risk.
- Action: ask a clinician for a balance review.
- Clear trip hazards and review meds meanwhile.
- Retest after the plan takes hold.
Reference table
| Time | Band | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 s | Normal | Stay active, yearly retest |
| 10 to 12 s | Watch | Recheck in 3 months |
| 12 s and up | At risk | Clinician balance review |
| After a fall | At risk | Review now regardless |
Limits
- Screening only. Exams diagnose causes.
- Needs the standard 3-m course and setup.
- One time is noisy; trends count.
- Acute illness and injury distort it.
Common mistakes
- Timing a different distance.
- Testing in socks on slick floors.
- Skipping the practice try.
- Reading one slow day as fate.
- Ignoring meds behind slow times.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
TUG in 8.2 seconds?
8.2 s sits under 10: Normal mobility. Keep active, retest yearly.
TUG in 11 seconds?
11 s sits 10 to 12: Watch, retest soon. Recheck in 3 months.
Questions
What is the Timed Up and Go?
Rise from a standard chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit, timed. It tests strength, balance, and gait in one number that predicts falls.
What times mean what?
Under 10 seconds normal mobility, 10 to 12 watch and retest, 12 and up at risk for falls. One line: twelve seconds splits watch from workup.
How do I run the test right?
Usual footwear and walking aid, same chair and 3-meter course, best of one or two tries after a practice. Different setups shift seconds.
What slows the time?
Strength, balance, and gait together: weak legs, dizzy spells, and shuffling all slow the clock. Meds, vision, and feet join the review.
What improves a slow time?
Strength and balance training, home hazard fixes, vision checks, and medication review. Retest in months to prove the plan worked.
How often should I test?
Yearly with annual wellness visits, sooner after falls, hospital stays, or new dizzy spells. Track the trend, not one lucky morning.