Usefulness of the instrumented timed up and go test for walking assessment in older adults.

PURPOSE: The Up and Go test is a widely used tool among physical therapists for assessing functional mobility. Advances in inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors enable the analysis not only of total walk duration but also of the duration of individual walk phases, as well as the determination of spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters for each phase. Consequently, the IMU-supported version of the test up and go, referred to as the instrumented up and go, enables a substantially more comprehensive analysis of locomotor patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters obtained during the instrumented timed up nad go test correspond to those observed during walking in older adults. METHODS: The study included 30 adults aged over 60 years, who performed the instrumented up and go test as well as a 10 m walk test at a self-selected walking speed. The study involved the analysis of selected spatiotemporal parameters, including cadence, velocity, stride length, and the percentage contribution of gait phases, as well as analysis of pelvic tilt and lower-limb kinematics, including ranges of motion. RESULTS: The results indicate that while the instrumented up and go test does not directly reflect natural walk patterns, selected parameters may still provide complementary information relevant to functional mobility assessment in older adults. CONCLUSION: The instrumented up and go test should not be considered a substitute for standard walk analysis.