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 .
Group exercise can improve participants' mobility in an outpatient rehabilitation setting: a randomized controlled trial
Objective : To establish the effects of group exercise on mobility and strength . Design : R and omized controlled trial . Setting : Two public hospital outpatient rehabilitation services . Participants : One hundred and seventy-three people ( mean age 74.9 years , SD 10.8 ) with impaired mobility were r and omized and 159 people ( 92 % ) completed the trial . Interventions : Five-week , twice-weekly ` circuit-style ' group exercise programme run by a physiotherapist ( n = 85 ) and a no-intervention waiting list control group ( n = 88 ) . Main outcome measures : Three aspects of mobility : balance while st and ing and stepping ( Step Test , semi-t and em and t and em stance times ) ; sit-to-st and ability ( rate and minimum height ) and gait ( 6-metre and 6-minute walk tests ) . Lower limb muscle strength ( knee flexion and extension ) . Results : At retest , exercise participants had improved significantly more than their control counterparts on measures of balance while stepping , sit to st and and gait . Exercise participants averaged 1.6 more steps on the 15-second Step Test ( 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 0.5 to 2.8 , P=0.005 ) , walked an average of 0.12 m/s faster ( 95 % CI 0.05 to 0.2 , P=0.002 ) and took 2.5 fewer steps in 6 metres ( 95 % CI —4.2 to —0.8 , P=0.004 ) . Exercise participants also averaged 0.04 more sit-to-st and s/second , ( 95 % CI 0.003 to 0.08 , P=0.037 ) and walked an average of 30.9 metres further in 6 minutes ( 95 % CI 9.4 to 52.4 , P=0.005 ) . There were no clinical ly important or statistically significant between-group differences at retest for the measures of strength ( knee extension and flexion ) , balance while st and ing or minimal sit-to-st and height . Conclusion : This short- duration circuit class programme improved mobility , but not strength
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 .