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 .
Joint effects of adiposity and physical activity on incident mobility limitation in older adults.
OBJECTIVES To examine joint associations of physical activity and adiposity measures ( body mass index ( BMI ) , waist circumference , percentage body fat ) with incident mobility limitation . DESIGN Prospect i ve observational cohort study . SETTING Memphis , Tennessee and Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . PARTICIPANTS Two thous and nine hundred and eighty-two black and white men and women aged 70 to 79 participating in the Health , Aging and Body Composition ( Health ABC ) study . MEASUREMENTS Mobility limitation was defined as reported difficulty walking one-quarter of a mile or climbing 10 steps during two consecutive semiannual assessment s over 6.5 years . Three measures of adiposity were included in this study : BMI , total percentage body fat , and waist circumference . Physical activity  was assessed using a modified leisure-time physical activity question naire . RESULTS Forty-six percent of the cohort developed mobility limitation .  White and black men with a high BMI ( > or = 30 kg/m(2 ) ) , high total percentage body fat ( > 31.3 % ) , or high waist circumference ( > or = 102 cm ) had an approximately 60 % , 40 % , and 40 % , respectively , higher risk of incident mobility limitation than those with low adiposity . In women , high adiposity was also associated with a significantly higher mobility limitation risk than in those with low adiposity . Low physical activity ( lowest quartile ) was associated with a 70 % higher risk of mobility limitation in all groups . Persons with high adiposity and low physical activity were at particularly high risk of mobility limitation .  People with high adiposity who were physically active had an equally high risk of mobility limitation as inactive people with low adiposity . CONCLUSION High adiposity and low self-reported physical activity predicted the onset of mobility limitation in well-functioning older persons . Preventing weight gain in old age and promoting physical activity in obese and non-obese older persons may therefore be effective strategies to prevent mobility loss and future disability
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 .