The relationship between the scores on the Up and Go Test and the Tinetti Gait Scale in two groups of elderly.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between scores on the Up and Go Test and the Tinetti Gait Scale between two groups of elderly. subjects for this study were 29 elderly residents of Emporia Presbyterian Manor, a continuous care retirement facility in Emporia, KS. There were 4 male and 25 female subjects, ranging in age from 76 to 98 years old, with 7 subjects in a history of falls group and 22 subjects in a no history of falls group. Each subject completed the Up and Go Test and the Tinetti Gait Scale. All data were analyzed at the R>.05 level of significance through the use of a t-test and a Pearson product-moment correlation. A very high negative correlational relationship was found between the scores on the Up and Go Test and the Tinetti Gait Scale. No significant difference was found on scores on the Up and Go Test of subjects with a history of falls compared with subjects with no history of falls. A slight, but not significant, difference was found in scores on the Tinetti Gait Scale of subjects with a history of falls compared with subjects who had no history of falls.