Mobility, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is an "activity," that is, the "execution of a task or action by an individual."1 Mobility, therefore, is differentiated from bodily functions (eg, force production) and participation (eg, shopping). The WHO defines mobility as "moving by changing body position or location or by transferring from one place to another, by carrying, moving, or manipulating objects, by walking, running, or climbing, and by using various forms of transportation."1 While all of these activity-level endeavors are important, some are outside the traditional understanding of mobility as captured by instruments such as the Functional Independence Measure.2 In this issue of Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation a subset WHO mobility categories will be addressed. Those categories are maintaining a body position (eg, standing), changing a basic body position (eg, standing up from a chair), transferring oneself (eg, from bed to chair), walking, and moving around (eg, running). This issue will focus on tests and measures of mobility relevant to older adults that fall under the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice's "gait, locomotion, and balance" and "self-care and home management" categories.3 Typically, such measures are obtained directly by the clinician; but they can also involve reports of a patient or an informed other. This issue will address measures obtained by both means. Specifically covered will be the clinical measurement of activities frequently treated by rehabilitation clinicians; that is, static and dynamic balance (Lin and Whitney), gait speed (Hornyak et al), ambulatory endurance (Steffen and Nelson), enacted mobility (Tudor-Locke), sit-to-stand performance (Bohannon), and self-reported mobility (Andrews).

-Richard W. Bohannon, DPT, EdD,

NCS, FAPTA, FAHA, FASNR, CEEAA

References