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 .
Current status and correlates of physicians' referral diagnoses for physical therapy.
STUDY DESIGN R and omized multicenter retrospective chart review of medical referral diagnoses and corresponding referral , patient , and physician demographic data . OBJECTIVE To examine the information content of medical referral diagnoses  provided to  outpatient physical therapists  with respect to physician and patient characteristics . BACKGROUND Previous studies indicate that physicians commonly provide nonspecific referral diagnoses to physical therapists . The effects of patient and physician characteristics on information contained in referral diagnoses are not well eluci date d. METHODS AND MEASURES A team of blinded raters categorized the information content of  referral diagnoses ( n = 2183 ) using a classification system adapted from a previous study . RESULTS One third ( 32 % ) of analyzed diagnoses were anatomically oriented and reported specific pathology . These specific diagnoses were provided significantly more commonly by specialist physicians ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 3.4 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 2.7 - 4.2 ; P < .001 ) , male physicians ( OR , 2.2 ; 95 % CI , 1.6 - 3.1 ; P < .001 ) , both early- and late-career physicians ( P < .001 ) , and for male patients ( OR , 1.3 ; 95 % CI , 1.1 - 1.6 ; P < .05 ) . CONCLUSION Nonspecific referral diagnoses are frequently provided to physical therapists by physicians . The practice of evidence -based physical therapy seems challenged by the high rate of nonspecific referral diagnoses . Physical therapists may also have the responsibility to conduct differential diagnosis of pathology more commonly than formally recognized by many state practice acts and third-party payers
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 .