Article

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test to define
responsiveness to auditory and visual cues in patients with Parkinson's disease.
METHODS: Consecutive patients > 50 years old were enrolled if they were
classified as stage 1-3 of the Hoehn and Yahr scale; scored </= 45 on part III of
the Uni fi ed Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale; > 23 on the Mini-Mental State
Examination; and were able to perform the TUG test without assistance.
Within-subject analysis identified positive-responders, negative-responders and
non-responders. TUG times with and without sensory cues were studied among all
patients, and among responders only using the Friedman Test. RESULTS: Twenty-two
patients (16 men, 6 women), mean age 72.4 years (standard deviation (SD) 8.7
years) were included. Basal mean TUG time was 12.3 (SD 4.0). TUG times after
visual cues (11.7 (SD 4.8)) were lower than in basal conditions (p = 0.006),
whereas TUG times after auditory cues were not (p > 0.05). In the 16 patients who
were positive-responders, mean TUG times after visual (11.0 (SD 3.1)) and
auditory (11.3 (SD 3.6)) cues were lower than in basal conditions (12.5 (SD 3.8))
(p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: The TUG test may be used to tailor the rehabilitation
programme in patients with Parkinson's disease, identifying those who respond to
visual and auditory cueing.

Langue : ANGLAIS