A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study
Abstract BackgroundThe Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is recommended as an evidence-based tool for measuring physical capacity. Instrumented TUG (iTUG) approaches expand classical supervised clinical applications offering the potential of self-assessment for older adults....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-03-01
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| Series: | JMIR Aging |
| Online Access: | https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e67322 |
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| author | Melissa Johanna Böttinger Sabato Mellone Jochen Klenk Carl-Philipp Jansen Marios Stefanakis Elena Litz Anastasia Bredenbrock Jan-Philipp Fischer Jürgen M Bauer Clemens Becker Katharina Gordt-Oesterwind |
| author_facet | Melissa Johanna Böttinger Sabato Mellone Jochen Klenk Carl-Philipp Jansen Marios Stefanakis Elena Litz Anastasia Bredenbrock Jan-Philipp Fischer Jürgen M Bauer Clemens Becker Katharina Gordt-Oesterwind |
| author_sort | Melissa Johanna Böttinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundThe Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is recommended as an evidence-based tool for measuring physical capacity. Instrumented TUG (iTUG) approaches expand classical supervised clinical applications offering the potential of self-assessment for older adults.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of a smartphone-based TUG self-assessment “up&go app.”
MethodsA total of 52 community-dwelling older adults (>67 years old) were recruited. A validated and medically certified system attached with a belt at the lower back was used as a reference system to validate the “up&go app” algorithm. The participants repeated the TUG 5 times wearing, a smartphone with the “up&go app” in their front trouser pocket and an inertial sensor to test the concurrent validity. A subsample of 37 participants repeated the “up&go app” measurement 2 weeks later to examine the test-retest reliability.
ResultsThe correlation between the “up&go app” and the reference measurement was rr
ConclusionsThe duration of 5 repetitions of the TUG test, measured with the pocket-worn “up&go app,” was very consistent with the results of a lower-back sensor system, indicating excellent concurrent validity. Participants walked slower in the first round than in the other 4 repetitions within a test run. Test-retest reliability was also excellent. The “up&go app” provides a useful smartphone-based approach to measure 5 repetitions of the TUG. The app could be used by older adults as a self-screening and monitoring tool of physical capacity at home and thereby help to early identify functional limitations and take interventions when necessary. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b0a21cabbef435788d0c29c6fec0076 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2561-7605 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Aging |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b0a21cabbef435788d0c29c6fec00762025-08-20T02:10:02ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Aging2561-76052025-03-018e67322e6732210.2196/67322A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability StudyMelissa Johanna Böttingerhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7772-0642Sabato Mellonehttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7688-0188Jochen Klenkhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5987-447XCarl-Philipp Jansenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2779-7019Marios Stefanakishttp://orcid.org/0009-0006-0612-1219Elena Litzhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-1568-2679Anastasia Bredenbrockhttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-2352-539XJan-Philipp Fischerhttp://orcid.org/0009-0007-3248-0802Jürgen M Bauerhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7379-0646Clemens Beckerhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1624-8353Katharina Gordt-Oesterwindhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2709-1147 Abstract BackgroundThe Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is recommended as an evidence-based tool for measuring physical capacity. Instrumented TUG (iTUG) approaches expand classical supervised clinical applications offering the potential of self-assessment for older adults. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of a smartphone-based TUG self-assessment “up&go app.” MethodsA total of 52 community-dwelling older adults (>67 years old) were recruited. A validated and medically certified system attached with a belt at the lower back was used as a reference system to validate the “up&go app” algorithm. The participants repeated the TUG 5 times wearing, a smartphone with the “up&go app” in their front trouser pocket and an inertial sensor to test the concurrent validity. A subsample of 37 participants repeated the “up&go app” measurement 2 weeks later to examine the test-retest reliability. ResultsThe correlation between the “up&go app” and the reference measurement was rr ConclusionsThe duration of 5 repetitions of the TUG test, measured with the pocket-worn “up&go app,” was very consistent with the results of a lower-back sensor system, indicating excellent concurrent validity. Participants walked slower in the first round than in the other 4 repetitions within a test run. Test-retest reliability was also excellent. The “up&go app” provides a useful smartphone-based approach to measure 5 repetitions of the TUG. The app could be used by older adults as a self-screening and monitoring tool of physical capacity at home and thereby help to early identify functional limitations and take interventions when necessary.https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e67322 |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Johanna Böttinger Sabato Mellone Jochen Klenk Carl-Philipp Jansen Marios Stefanakis Elena Litz Anastasia Bredenbrock Jan-Philipp Fischer Jürgen M Bauer Clemens Becker Katharina Gordt-Oesterwind A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study JMIR Aging |
| title | A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study |
| title_full | A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study |
| title_fullStr | A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study |
| title_short | A Smartphone-Based Timed Up and Go Test Self-Assessment for Older Adults: Validity and Reliability Study |
| title_sort | smartphone based timed up and go test self assessment for older adults validity and reliability study |
| url | https://aging.jmir.org/2025/1/e67322 |
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