Commonly measured constructs of mobility included walking , climbing stairs , and lower extremity function .
There was heterogeneity in ways of defining and measuring mobility limitation in older adults living in the community .
Mobility is critical in maintaining independence in older adults .
This study aims to systematic ally review the scientific literature to identify measures of mobility limitation for community-dwelling older adults .
The dynamics of disability and functional change in an elderly cohort: results from the Alameda County Study.
OBJECTIVE To examine changes in functional status over time by age , gender , and ethnicity in a representative sample of older persons . DESIGN Six-year prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING Alameda County , California . PARTICIPANTS 508 persons 65 years old and older at baseline in 1984 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Activities of daily living ( ADL ) dependence , mobility impairment , and functioning on an 18-item scale . RESULTS The prevalence of ADL dependence and mobility impairment at baseline increased with age , while function decreased . Particularly striking differences occurred for those 80 and older . Changes in function over the 6-year follow-up showed a similar pattern . While death rates for males were higher , females had poorer initial functioning , and surviving females declined more than surviving males . The incidence of ADL dependence and mobility impairment during follow-up was similar for males and females , although females survived longer with incident disability than did males . Blacks had poorer baseline functioning , more ADL dependence and mobility impairment , and declined more than non-Blacks during follow-up . Some of the baseline difference in function between Blacks and non-Blacks was due to higher rates of chronic illness and co-morbidity . In spite of the general downward trend in functioning over the 6 years , 13 % of the males and 20 % of the females improved . CONCLUSION Age-related changes in function for older persons are complex and result in much heterogeneity . Clarifying the reasons for such heterogeneity is an important and challenging area of research
Commonly measured constructs of mobility included walking , climbing stairs , and lower extremity function .
There was heterogeneity in ways of defining and measuring mobility limitation in older adults living in the community .
Mobility is critical in maintaining independence in older adults .
This study aims to systematic ally review the scientific literature to identify measures of mobility limitation for community-dwelling older adults .