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 .
Construct and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of preclinical mobility limitation.
OBJECTIVES To vali date self-reported pre clinical mobility limitation concept and self-report assessment method against muscle power and walking speed , and to study the predictive validity of pre clinical mobility limitation with respect to future risk of manifest mobility limitation . DESIGN Observational prospect i ve cohort study and cross-sectional analysis . SETTING Research laboratory and community . PARTICIPANTS A total of 632 community-living ( age range , 75 - 81 y ) women and men took part in the baseline assessment s and 302 persons in the semi-annual interviews on mobility limitation over 2 years . INTERVENTIONS Not applicable . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Walking speed , muscle power , and self-reported pre clinical and manifest mobility limitation . Pre clinical mobility limitation was defined as self-reported tiredness or modification of task performance without task difficulty . At baseline , 4 subgroups were created according to self-reported pre clinical mobility limitation in any of 3 mobility tasks ( walking 2 km , walking 0.5 km , climbing up stairs ) : no limitation , pre clinical limitation , and minor and major manifest limitation . RESULTS At baseline , participants with pre clinical mobility limitation showed intermediate levels of walking speed and muscle power , compared with those with no limitation or manifest mobility limitation . Participants reporting baseline pre clinical mobility limitation had 3- to 6-fold higher age- and sex-adjusted risk of progressing to major manifest mobility limitation during the 2-year follow-up compared with participants with no limitation at baseline , whereas the risk among those with minor limitation at baseline was 14- to 18-fold higher compared with those with no limitation . CONCLUSIONS The self-report assessment tool proved to be a valid measure to capture the early signs of disability and may serve as an inexpensive tool for identifying those nondisabled persons at high risk for 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 .