Timed mobility: description of measurement, performance, and dimensionality among older adults.

PURPOSE: To describe the measurement, performance, and dimensionality of five timed mobility activities completed by older adults.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Cross-sectional observational study using correlational and factor analysis to examine the dimensionality of five timed mobility activities performed by 189 older adults in an outpatient setting.

RESULTS

The times to complete supine-to-sit, five repetition sit-to-stand, 8 m comfortable gait, four step ascent, and four step descent were correlated significantly with one another (r = 0.294-0.827, p < 0.001). The times were also internally consistent (α = 0.71) and loaded highly on a single factor (0.587-0.888).

CONCLUSION

The timed measurements of this study were easily obtained. They can be viewed as unidimensional and representative of a single construct of the international classification of functioning, disability, and health -timed mobility. Implications for rehabilitation For patients who are independent in mobility, timing offers a means of differentiating the performance of individual patients. As the times to complete five mobility activities are interrelated, mobility is supported as a rehabilitation construct and patients who are faster at one activity should be expected to be faster at another.