This cross sectional study included 413 participants in the age group of 19-70 years from kancheepuram district, collected from SRM College of Physiotherapy, done for a period of six months from October 2017 to march 2018. The permission was obtained from Institution Ethical Commitee. All the participants were assessed thoroughly and the individuals with no cognitive impairment, those who were able to walk independently. Both men and women were included and subjects with neurological conditions, blind and deaf subjects, subjects with chronic illness, who were unable to walk 3 meters were excluded from the study. The Participants were divided under following age groups: 19-20 (95 subjects), 21-30 (81 subjects), 31-40 (29 subjects), 41-50 (24 subjects), 51-60 (84 subjects), 61-70 years (100 subjects) respectively.

The present study was formulated as per the recommendation by Podsiadlo [9] where the subjects were instructed to wear the normal foot wear that they use in normal day to day life. Subjects were instructed with regard to the test and the purpose of the study and an informed consent was obtained from them.

The floor chosen was non slippery and a distance of 3 meters was marked from the chair which was placed such that it does not move when the subject moves from sitting to standing or viceversa and the subjects were instructed to walk at their own pace and inform whenever they feel palpitation, giddiness or wanted to stop the test. The subjects were given a trial for which no data was documented. The test were taken in daylight when enough ventilation and light was available.

The instruction was to get up from the chair and walk to the mark of the 3 meter and walk around it and return back and sit back in the chair. The time taken was recorded and documented in seconds. The subjects were allowed to use the arm rest of the chair if needed to get up and sit back in the chair. Three trials were done for each subject on the same time with adequate rest in between as required by the subjects. All the three trials time were recorded and documented and the average of the three trials were taken.

Data was tabulated and analysed through SPSS Version 16. In this study, 95% confidence interval and significance of 5% was considered, One-way ANOVA was used to observe between groups association and for multiple comparison Tukey HSD was used.

Out of 413 subjects there were 161 males and 252 females with the mean age of 39.9, ranging from 19-70 years of age. [Table/Fig-1] provides the mean value of the Timed Up and Go score obtained in various age groups and this table shows that there was a statistically significant difference existing between these age groups, p<0.01.

[Table/Fig-2] explains the multiple comparison between groups using Post-HOC test and it details that there exist a significant difference in TUG test scores between 19-20 years age group and above 40 years age group up to 70 years, whereas no significant difference exist between 19-20 years age group and 20-40 years age groups. The values obtained from 31-40 years group shows no difference from 41-50 years age group TUG scores. 51-60 years age group and 61-70 years age group TUG scores were statistically significantly different from all other age groups compared and even between these two age groups there were different TUG scores values (p<0.05).

Timed Up and Go test is a commonly used test by physiotherapist to assess and document on the postural control, efficacy of the different exercise intervention [19-21], quality of life. But normative data exist only for elderly population and in patients of various condition. This study included 413 subjects who had no neurological deficit and also who could walk without aids. A meta-analysis stated the mean TUG score for people between 60-99 years and found the mean value for 60-69 year-old subjects to be 8.1 seconds, 9.2 seconds for 70-79 years and 11.3 seconds for 80-99 years [18]. But in this study the mean value of TUG scores for age group 60-69 is found to be 19.7 which is quite high and the mean value of 8.1 was found among age group 41-50 years [Table/Fig-1]. The results of this study goes in handwith Bischoff, where he found that community dwelling elderly women in age group of 60-85 years performed this test for less than 20 seconds [15]. TUG is usually administered for elder population and most of the studies documented the normative values among 60-90 age groups. The TUG scores varies enormously between various studies done in various population. TUG test values for 60-69 was found as 8.1 seconds, 14.4 seconds, below 20 seconds where as in this study it was found to be 19.7 seconds [15,18]. The difference between the present study and other studies might have been because of the type of subjects included. In other studies, only elderly population is included whereas in this study, population are of from various age groups from 19-70 years.

But TUG is a test to assess mobility impairment and Elizabeth stated that Mobility (walking) disabilities are quite common among middle aged women [22], also found the associated problems quite similar to the elderly community and they recommended to address the mobility impairments in middle aged population [23].

The results of this study shows a mean value of TUG score to be 7.1 seconds for the age group of 31-40 years and about 8.1 seconds for the age group 41-50 years. The mobility is found to get reduced as year progresses and among 51-60 years it rises to 12 seconds.

One source suggest that score less than 10 in TUG test suggest normal mobility [23], but according to the results of this study 51-60 and 61-70 population falls after 10 seconds and even 41-50 years subjects fall near to the normal value. So, this study recommends that mobility has to be assessed in middle aged population also. The results of this study shows that there was a significant difference between 51-60 years and 61-70 years group with all other age groups. The values of TUG score varies significantly between 41-50 years age groups and all other age group except 31-40 year age group. But there exist no statistically significant difference in the mean score value between 19-20, 21-30 and 31-40 years age groups which have a mean value of 6.8. Age group of 31-40 and 41-50 years shows no significant difference in mobility impairment.

The mobility level steadily decreases with the increase in age and 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years shows a greater decline with a mean score of 7.1 seconds, 8.1 seconds and 12 seconds respectively. Higher TUG values predispose the subjects to increase risk of fall which might affect their mobility further compromising their Quality of life. This study shows the fall prevalence also steadily increasing with age and middle aged population should also be given care for prevention of fall.

Few limitations were BMI should have been included and correlated with the TUG test, physical activity of the individuals are not considered. Future studies should be done to compare TUG test between men and women, their physical activity and TUG, Sensory Orientation and balance.

Timed up and Go test is highly influenced by age. There exists a significant difference between age groups But there was no significant difference in TUG score between 31-40 and 41-50 age group. This study recommends the mobility assessment from the age of 50 as the mobility impairment starts early nowadays due to change in lifestyle and TUG test can be recommended for population of all ages to assess mobility and thereby prevent fall and improve balance.