Stand up, walk 10 feet, turn, walk back and sit down. A helper times you with the stopwatch on this page.
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test times how long it takes you to stand up, walk a short distance, turn around, walk back and sit down. Physical therapists and the CDC use it to check mobility, balance, walking and fall risk.
Helper: stay next to the person the whole time. Don’t rush them. This is not a race.
Your result is compared with the fall-risk cutoff researchers found for that group.
This is a screening, not a diagnosis. It can point out a possible fall risk, but it can’t tell you for sure whether you will fall, or why. Only a licensed health care provider who examines you can do that. If you are worried about your balance, talk with your doctor or a physical therapist.
The time is only part of the picture. The CDC suggests watching how the person moves. Note any of these:
Any of these is worth telling a doctor or physical therapist about, even if the time is under the cutoff. The CDC notes these changes may point to a problem that needs a closer look.
For an older adult living at home (the most common case):
| Time | What it means |
|---|---|
| More than 13.5 seconds | Higher fall risk for older adults living at home |
| 12 to 13.5 seconds | Close to the line. The CDC’s STEADI program uses 12 seconds as its sign to get checked. |
| Under 12 seconds | Under both cutoffs, a good sign on this test |
If you picked a different group above, the tool uses that group’s cutoff instead (see the table below).
Average TUG times for healthy older adults living at home (Steffen et al., 2002):
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 60–69 | 8 seconds | 8 seconds |
| 70–79 | 9 seconds | 9 seconds |
| 80–89 | 10 seconds | 11 seconds |
Times above these cut-offs indicate higher fall risk in each group. Use the cut-off that matches the person being tested; they come from different studies, settings and samples.
| Population | Cut-off | Study |
|---|---|---|
| Community-dwelling older adults | > 13.5 s | Shumway-Cook et al., 2000 |
| Older adults after stroke | > 14 s | Andersson et al., 2006 |
| Older adults already attending a falls clinic | > 15 s | Whitney et al., 2005 |
| Frail elderly | > 32.6 s | Thomas et al., 2005 |
| Lower-extremity amputees | > 19 s | Dite et al., 2007 |
| Parkinson’s disease | > 11.5 s > 7.95 s | Nocera et al., 2013 Dibble & Lange, 2006 |
| Hip osteoarthritis | > 10 s | Arnold et al., 2007 |
| Vestibular disorders | > 11.1 s | Whitney et al., 2004 |
Source: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database, Timed Up and Go, “Cut-off scores indicating risk of falls by population” (sralab.org). For Parkinson’s disease this tool flags >11.5 s (Nocera et al., 2013) and notes the stricter >7.95 s (Dibble & Lange, 2006). The 12–13.5 s “close to the cutoff” band and CDC 12 s mark apply only to community-dwelling older adults.
Primary source. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database, Timed Up and Go: fall-risk cutoff for community-dwelling older adults >13.5 seconds (Shumway-Cook A, Brauer S, Woollacott M. Predicting the probability for falls in community-dwelling older adults using the Timed Up & Go Test. Phys Ther 2000;80(9):896-903); age norms (Steffen TM et al., Phys Ther 2002;82(2):128-137); practice trial and comfortable pace (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991): sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/timed-and-go. Secondary. Walking observations and the 12-second screening mark from the CDC STEADI assessment Timed Up & Go (TUG): cdc.gov/steadi/media/pdfs/STEADI-Assessment-TUG-508.pdf. Use of CDC materials does not imply CDC endorsement of Holsman Physical Therapy.
Population cut-offs (as listed by SRALab): Andersson AG et al., J Rehabil Med 2006;38(3):186-191 (stroke); Whitney JC et al., Age Ageing 2005;34(6):567-571 (falls clinic); Thomas JI, Lane JV, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:1636-1640 (frail elderly); Dite W et al., Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2007;88(1):109-114 (amputation); Nocera J et al., Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2013 and Dibble LE, Lange M, J Neurol Phys Ther 2006;30(2):60-67 (Parkinson’s); Arnold et al., 2007 (hip osteoarthritis); Whitney SL et al., J Vestib Res 2004;14:397-409 (vestibular).
Next step: A Holsman physical therapist can check your balance in person and build a plan to help you stay steady. Book a free balance screening or call 1-855-465-7626.
Monday, Nov 16 – Friday, Nov 20, 2026 at all 17 Holsman clinics
A physical therapist checks your balance with the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go and 4-Stage Balance Test. It takes about 20 minutes. It’s free, and you don’t need insurance or a referral.
Our NO FALL PROTOCOL® assessment uses the same tests physical therapists use worldwide, and you leave with a plan. 17 clinics in North Jersey, the Bronx and Brooklyn, plus in-home visits.
For older adults living at home, more than 13.5 seconds points to a higher risk of falling (Shumway-Cook et al., 2000, listed by the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab). The CDC uses 12 seconds as its sign to get checked. Healthy adults in their 60s and 70s average about 8 to 9 seconds. A fast time is a good sign but doesn’t rule out fall risk on its own.
Yes. The CDC instructions say to wear your regular shoes and use your walking aid if you need it.
Walk to a line 10 feet (3 meters) from the chair, turn around, walk back and sit down.
Don’t do this test alone. Ask a physical therapist to test you. Needing help to stand is important information on its own.
No. The stopwatch and result run only in your web browser. Nothing is sent or stored.
Physical therapists at 17 locations across NJ & NYC. Same-week appointments available.
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