The reliability and validity of the timed up and go test in individuals following lumbar spinal surgery
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2026
Yazarlar: Mustafa Yalçın, Fatih Özden, Miray Başer, İsmail Uysal, Mehmet Özkeskin, Duygu Baykal, Zübeyir Sarı
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, Uluslararası, Wos, 2026, ss 1-9
DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2026.2707231
Özet
Background Although the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is frequently used in lumbar pathologies, its test – retest reliability, convergent validity, and measurement error have not yet been established in the postoperative period.Objective The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the test – retest reliability, convergent validity, andmeasure menterr or of the TUG test in individuals after lumbar spinal surgery.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 individuals (mean age 55.0 ± 8.9 years; 48 women, 52 men) at least 6 weeks after lumbar spinal surgery. Participants performed the TUG, Five-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (5xSTS), and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). The TUG was repeated after a 1-hour rest period. Test – retest reliability was evaluated using the intraclasss correlation coefficient (ICC2,1). Measurement error was evaluated using the standard error of measurement (SEM), the minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC95), and the Bland – Altman limits of agreement (LoA). Convergent validity was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient with the 5xSTS and 10MWT.Results Excellent test – retest reliability was demonstrated (ICC2,1 = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99). The SEM and MDC95were 0.26 seconds (s) and 0.72 s, respectively. The mean difference (bias) was −0.00 s (95% CI: −0.80 to 0.70), with lower and upper limits of agreement of −0.74 s (95% CI: −0.87 to −0.61) and 0.73 s (95% CI: 0.60 to 0.86), respectively. The TUG showed strong positive correlations with the 5xSTS (r = 0.95, p < .001) and the 10MWT (r = 0.92, p < .001).Conclusion The TUG is a reliable and valid tool for measuring functional mobility in individuals after lumbar spinal surgery, providing objective data to complement subjective assessments.