Validity and Reliability of the Timed Up & Go and the Functional Reach tests in evaluating fall risk in elderly

The purpose of this study was investigating the validity and reliability of Timed Up & Go and Functional Reach tests in evaluating fall risk in elderly. This study was designed to include 200 subjects in each falling or no falling history group (100 subjects in each). Subjects were community-dwelling adults aged 60- 90 years of Tehran. All subjects performed TUG and FR. Data was analyzed by means of Pearson correlation, ANOVA, Cronbach’s alpha and t- test. TUG test had acceptable construct validity (Group difference, growth and clinical validity); Acceptable internal concurrence (Correlation coefficient of those items among 0.76 – 0.89); Cronbach’s alpha was 0.81; time stability was 0.98. Also, FR test had acceptable construct validity (Group difference, growth and clinical validity) and time stability was 0.97. Results showed that TUG, FR and Berg tests have the significant correlation coefficient. Results of this study demonstrated TUG and FR tests have acceptable validity and reliability in elderly. Therefore, these two tests can be used to identify the possible fall risk in elderly.