![]() ![]() Principally, applicable tests must be valid, suitable for the target population, and the practical aspects of their application are well known. In order to choose the appropriate assessment test in the research field and in practice, several factors have to be taken into consideration. The choice will depend on the user’s objectives as well as the properties of the tool. For instance, some tests analyze quantitative measurements, while others focus on qualitative aspects.Īlthough there is a lack of consensus on which assessment test to use, it is very important to select an accurate one to improve the thoroughness of evaluations, determine precise plans of care, and monitor progress better. Additionally, the interpretation of results could vary from test to another, depending on the methodology of recording outcomes. In fact, these tools differ from each other with regard to their functional level, content, and characteristics. Nowadays, many assessment instruments are used to evaluate elderly people’s mobility and balance, such as the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). As well, a pooled analysis of individual data collected from 9 cohort studies affirmed the association between gait speed and survival in older adults. As shown by Van Kan, G.A et al., gait speed could be used as a predictor of adverse outcomes, since it reflects the health and functional status in elderlies. ![]() Researchers and specialists refer to mobility measures to (i) identify changes in an individual’s mobility, (ii) detect early sign of decline, and (iii) assist in guiding therapeutic interventions. Accordingly, evaluations of mobility are fundamental in gerontology as they identify potential impairments and reduce morbidity. For this reason, healthcare professionals are keen to recognize subjects who have problems, as well as to determine the type of necessary interventions and their timing in order to plan a better health and healthcare for the aging population. Hence, the activities of daily living, which include a mobility item, start to diminish with age leading to depression, isolation, and death. They often cause a decline in independence, physical disability and injuries, institutionalization, and an increase in hospital admissions. Generally, troubles with walking and mobility impairments produce undesirable physical, cognitive, and social consequences for older adults. Īccording to World Health Organization (WHO), while the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders increases with age, some related diseases are the second largest contributor to disability worldwide, such as osteoarthritis, low back problems, hip fracture, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis. For instance, factors like changes in bones, joint problems, muscle weakness, and neurological diseases can lead to mobility impairments. On the other hand, several physiological and psychological factors can have negative effects on the mobility of older people. Results showed that the ability to walk can lead changes in both physical and mental HRQoL. In a cohort study of 1128 people aged between 60 and 96 years, an association between elderlies’ mobility and the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has been demonstrated. Therefore, Mobility is considered as a crucial aspect in order to maintain healthy aging with a good quality of life. ![]() ![]() In this review, we refer to Mobility as the person’s ability to change his position or location or move from one place to another by walking and basic ambulation. Background and Purposeīy definition, the term “Mobility” has different meanings depending on the context it is used for. The analysis of our outcomes illustrates the similarities and differences between the identified tests. These characteristics include the origin and year of establishment, several practicality factors, and validity. Then, further searches were completed to identify the measurement properties of each test. Based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 31 assessment tests evaluating the mobility of healthy elderly people were found. Articles were screened based on their titles and abstracts, and only studies published in English were considered. This systematic review aims to identify all applicable elderly mobility assessment tests and show their measurement properties with as much detail as possible. Several evaluation tools have been proposed however, clinicians should select the most accurate ones wisely, based on numerous criteria. Assessments of gait, balance, and transfer in elderly people play a valuable role in maintaining healthy aging and preventing a decline in mobility. ![]()
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