Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | [b] Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | [c] Centers for Rehab Services, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | [d] Duquesne University, Department of Physical Therapy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | [e] ORL Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland | [f] Balance Laboratory, Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. Whitney, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physical Therapy, 6035 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. Tel.: +1 412 383 6642; Fax: +1 412 383 6629; E-mail: whitney@pitt.edu
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Timed "Up & Go" (TUG) and Dynamic Gait Index in identifying self-reported fallers among persons with vestibular dysfunction. One hundred three patient charts were included from a tertiary vestibular physical therapy practice. The patients ranged in age from 14–90 years and had vestibular diagnoses, falls reported in the patient chart, and completed the TUG and/or the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Thirty-one persons reported falling one or more times in the previous 6 months during their initial assessment. Persons who took longer than 13.5 seconds to perform the TUG test were 3.7 times more likely to have reported a fall in the previous 6 months. Those persons with scores less than or equal to 18 on the DGI were 2.7 times (p = 0.03) more likely to have reported a fall in the previous 6 months. The sensitivity of the DGI at 18 or less was 70% and the specificity was 51%. People who scored greater than 11.1 seconds on the TUG were 5times (p = 0.001) more likely to have reported a fall in the previous 6 months. Sensitivity (80%) and specificity (56%) were calculated for TUG scores of greater than 11.1 seconds. The TUG and the DGI appear to be helpful in identifying fall risk in persons with vestibular dysfunction. Slower scores on the TUG (> 11.1 seconds) and lower scores on the DGI (18) correlated with reports of falls in persons with vestibular dysfunction.
