Several tools are available to assess mobility in the ambulatory setting .
Relatively few studies support therapeutic exercise to improve mobility limitation .
Strong evidence supports resistance and balance exercises for improving mobility-limiting physical weakness and balance disorders .
Addressing functional deficits and environmental barriers with exercise and mobility devices can lead to improved function , safety , and quality of life for patients with mobility limitations
IMPORTANCE Mobility limitations are common in older adults , affecting the physical , psychological , and social aspects of an older adult 's life .
OBJECTIVE To identify mobility risk factors , screening tools , medical management , need for physical therapy  , and efficacy of exercise interventions for older primary care patients with limited mobility .
The effects of physical therapists' guidance on improvement in a strength-training program for the frail elderly.
Elderly participants experiencing difficulty in chair rising and with a maximum knee-extensor torque below 87.5 N . m were r and omized  to different versions of a strength-training program for the knee-extensors : to a high-guidance group ( HG ; two group sessions supervised by a physical therapist and one unsupervised home session per week , n = 17 ) , a medium-guidance group ( MG ; one supervised group session and two unsupervised home sessions per week , n = 16 ) , or a control group ( C ; no exercise , n = 16 ) . Maximal isometric knee strength increased more in HG than in C ( p = .03 ) and with increasing guidance ( p = .03 ) . The effect was mainly the result of participants with low initial strength . Walking speed increased more for HG than for C ( p = .02 ) and than for MG ( p = .06 ) . No statistically significant improvements were seen on other functional tests . In summary , the study shows a trend toward better results with more supervision , but more and larger studies are needed to confirm this
Several tools are available to assess mobility in the ambulatory setting .
Relatively few studies support therapeutic exercise to improve mobility limitation .
Strong evidence supports resistance and balance exercises for improving mobility-limiting physical weakness and balance disorders .
Addressing functional deficits and environmental barriers with exercise and mobility devices can lead to improved function , safety , and quality of life for patients with mobility limitations
IMPORTANCE Mobility limitations are common in older adults , affecting the physical , psychological , and social aspects of an older adult 's life .
OBJECTIVE To identify mobility risk factors , screening tools , medical management , need for physical therapy  , and efficacy of exercise interventions for older primary care patients with limited mobility .