8 Foot Up-and-Go Test
The '8 Foot Up-and-Go' is a coordination and agility test for the elderly, which is part of the Senior Fitness Test Protocol. See also the AAHPERD agility test also designed to test agility in the elderly.
purpose: This test measures speed, agility and balance while moving.
equipment required: stopwatch, straight back or folding chair (about 17 inches/44 cm high), cone marker, measuring tape, area clear of obstacles.
pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender, test conditions. Measure and mark out test area. Perform an appropriate warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.
procedure: Place the chair next to a wall (for safety) and the marker 8 feet in front of the chair. Clear the path between the chair and the marker. The subject starts fully seated, hands resting on the knees and feet flat on the ground. On the command, "Go," timing is started and the subject stands and walks (no running) as quickly as possible (and safely) to and around the cone, returning to the chair to sit down. Timing stops as they sit down. Perform two trials.
scoring: Take the best time of the two trails to the nearest 1/10th second. Below is a table showing the recommended ranges in seconds for this test based on age groups (from Jones & Rikli, 2002).
Men’s Results
| Age | below average | average | above average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60-64 | > 5.6 | 5.6 to 3.8 | < 3.8 |
| 65-69 | > 5.7 | 5.7 to 4.3 | < 4.3 |
| 70-74 | > 6.0 | 6.0 to 4.2 | < 4.2 |
| 75-79 | > 7.2 | 7.2 to 4.6 | < 4.6 |
| 80-84 | > 7.6 | 7.6 to 5.2 | < 5.2 |
| 85-89 | > 8.9 | 8.9 to 5.3 | < 5.3 |
| 90-94 | > 10.0 | 10.0 to 6.2 | < 6.2 |
Women’s Results
| Age | below average | average | above average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60-64 | > 6.0 | 6.0 to 4.4 | < 4.4 |
| 65-69 | > 6.4 | 6.4 to 4.8 | < 4.8 |
| 70-74 | > 7.1 | 7.1 to 4.9 | < 4.9 |
| 75-79 | > 7.4 | 7.4 to 5.2 | < 5.2 |
| 80-84 | > 8.7 | 8.7 to 5.7 | < 5.7 |
| 85-89 | > 9.6 | 9.6 to 6.2 | < 6.2 |
| 90-94 | > 11.5 | 11.5 to 7.3 | < 7.3 |
target population: the aged population which may not be able to do traditional fitness tests.
comments: For best results, practice the test once, and then perform it twice. A cane or walker may be used if that is the usual mode of walking. Push-off from the chair is allowed.
references:
- Rose D., Jones C., Lucchese N.: Predicting the Probability of Falls in Community-Residing Older Adults Using the 8-Foot Up and- Go: A New Measure of Functional Mobility. J Aging & Physical Activity, Oct 2002; 10, 4.
- Jones C.J., Rikli R.E., Measuring functional fitness of older adults, The Journal on Active Aging, March April 2002, pp. 24–30.
- Anna Różańska-Kirschke, Piotr Kocur, Małgorzata Wilk, Piotr Dylewicz, The Fullerton Fitness Test as an index of fitness in the elderly, Medical Rehabilitation 2006; 10(2): 9-16.
The Test in Action
- This test is part of the Senior Fitness Test Protocol
Similar Tests
- Sitting-Rising Test — assesses flexibility, balance and muscle strength in the elderly
Related Pages
- The AAHPERD agility test is also designed to assess agility in the elderly.
- Other agility tests
- Read a discussion about testing the elderly
- All about the Senior Fitness Test
- Read about Fitness Testing for Specific Groups and Special Populations
- Buy the Senior Fitness Test Manual
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
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