Identifying a Cut-off Point for Timed Up and Go Test in Neuromuscular Diseases

Objective: Balance problems and falls due to a progressive loss of muscle strength in neuromuscular diseases (NMD) negatively affect the activities of daily living and functional independence of patients. The timed up and go (TUG) test is an easy-to-apply and objective measure of balance. This study aimed to determine the cut-off value of the TUG test in adult individuals with NMD.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 102 patients. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed and cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity values were calculated in NMD to determine the diagnostic validity of the TUG test.
Results: The mean ages of 55 patients with a fall history and 47 patients without a fall history were 34.40±10.41 and 31.87±10.11 years, respectively. The mean values of the TUG scores of these individuals were calculated as 11.79±4.30 and 7.33±1.51 s, respectively. The cut-off value of the TUG test in adult individuals with the NMD was determined as 8.9 s.
Conclusion: The present study revealed that individuals with NMD who complete the TUG test over 8.9 s have a high risk of falling. Determining the risk of falling in NMD, which is one of the neurological patient groups where falling complaints are most common, is extremely important for patient safety and the effectiveness of rehabilitation.