Timed Up and Go
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test measures functional mobility and fall risk by recording the time needed to rise from a chair, walk 3 metres, turn, walk back, and sit down. Normative data are from a large population-based study (Svinoy et al. 2021, n=5,400) drawn from the Norwegian Tromsø cohort. All five percentiles (P5 to P95) are reported natively; no approximation was needed. Lower times indicate better performance. Read more on Wikipedia
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Standard chair with armrests (seat height ~46 cm)
- Tape measure or cone
- Stopwatch
- Protocol Steps
-
- Place a cone or marker exactly 3 metres from the front leg of the chair.
- Participant sits fully in the chair, back against the backrest, arms resting on armrests.
- On 'Go', start the timer; participant stands (may use armrests), walks to the marker, turns around, walks back, and sits fully down.
- Stop the timer when the participant's buttocks touch the seat.
- Scoring
Time recorded to the nearest 0.1 second. A single trial is standard; some protocols use a practice trial followed by two timed trials (best recorded).
- Notes
Participants may use their usual walking aid; document this. Instruct participants to walk at a safe, comfortable pace — not maximal speed.
Data source: Svinoy et al. About this study
Timed Up and Go Norms Chart by Age and Sex (seconds)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 60-64 | Male | 5.7 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 9.9 | 13.0 |
| Female | 6.1 | 7.7 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 14.1 | |
| 65-69 | Male | 6.1 | 7.7 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 14.0 |
| Female | 6.6 | 8.3 | 9.8 | 11.8 | 16.0 | |
| 70-74 | Male | 6.6 | 8.5 | 10.1 | 12.2 | 16.5 |
| Female | 7.3 | 9.3 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 18.9 | |
| 75-79 | Male | 7.6 | 9.8 | 11.8 | 14.5 | 20.5 |
| Female | 8.3 | 10.7 | 12.9 | 16.0 | 23.2 | |
| 80-84 | Male | 8.4 | 11.4 | 14.1 | 18.2 | 27.0 |
| Female | 9.6 | 13.0 | 16.3 | 21.0 | 32.5 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 60-64 | 7.2 to 9.9 | 7.7 to 10.7 |
| 65-69 | 7.7 to 10.7 | 8.3 to 11.8 |
| 70-74 | 8.5 to 12.2 | 9.3 to 13.6 |
| 75-79 | 9.8 to 14.5 | 10.7 to 16.0 |
| 80-84 | 11.4 to 18.2 | 13.0 to 21.0 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Timed Up and Go test measure?
The TUG measures functional mobility — the speed and ability to perform a basic locomotor task that combines standing up, walking, turning, and sitting down. It is widely used as a screening tool for fall risk and mobility impairment in older adults. Times above 12 seconds are generally considered indicative of elevated fall risk in clinical guidelines.
What is the protocol for the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test?
The full step-by-step protocol is detailed in the 'How to Perform This Test (Protocol)' section above.
How is the TUG different from the 8-foot up-and-go?
The standard TUG uses a 3-metre (9.8 ft) walk distance; the 8-foot up-and-go (part of the Senior Fitness Test battery) uses 2.44 metres (8 ft). Both measure similar abilities but the norms are not interchangeable due to the different distances and source populations.
Why does this metric only cover ages 60–84?
The Svinoy et al. (2021) study was designed for community-dwelling older adults in the Tromsø cohort. Younger adult TUG data exist (e.g. Kear et al. 2017) but those studies are too small and lack sex-stratified percentiles for our format.
Why is a lower score better?
TUG records time in seconds — the faster the completion, the better the mobility. A score at the 5th percentile (fastest times, around 5–9 seconds depending on age) indicates excellent functional mobility; a score at the 95th percentile (slowest times) indicates poor performance relative to peers.