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 .
Sit-to-stand as home exercise for mobility-limited adults over 80 years of age--GrandStand System may keep you standing?
PURPOSE To compare the effects of functional home exercise of repeated sit-to-st and s with low-intensity progressive resistance training , on performance measures in mobility-limited adults over 80 years of age . SETTING Participants ' homes . DESIGN Community-dwelling older adults > or = 80 years of age were invited to participate in a r and omised controlled clinical trial . Baseline and outcome measures were : comfortable gait velocity , 30-s chair-st and test , 15-s step test , Berg Balance Scale , Modified Falls Efficacy Scale and the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument-function component . Participants r and omised to the intervention group performed repeated sit-to-st and s using a Gr and St and System ; a biofeedback device that recorded and displayed the number of repetitions performed . Participants r and omised to the control group performed knee extensions using ankle cuff weights . Both groups performed the exercises daily for 6 weeks . RESULTS Sixty-six older adults took part . The intervention group had a statistically significant improvement in Berg Balance Scale mean score , 1.67 + /- 2.64 points , P = 0.001 ( control group 0.73 + /- 3.63 points , P = 0.258 ) , indicating an improvement in balance over the 6-week exercise period . There was no statistically significant effect of either intervention on the other outcome measures . CONCLUSIONS In a highly variable population of older adults with mobility limitations , low-intensity functional home exercise of repeated sit-to-st and s using the Gr and St and System improved Berg Balance Scale score while low-intensity progressive resistance training did not . While statistically significant , the improvement in Berg Balance Scale score was modest raising the issue of what extent of change in score is clinical ly significant in this population
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 .