ADVANCING RESEARCH BY CLEARLY LABELING MEASURES OF PHYSICAL FUNCTION: EXTRACTING AMBULATION AND STAIR-CLIMBING FROM “MOBILITY DISABILITY”

Abstract

The term “mobility disability” is used in different academic disciplines to discuss conceptualizations of physical movement. Inadequate attention has been paid to how this umbrella term refers to various forms of measurements on both hypothetical and enacted function. Refining what is meant by mobility disability may impact clinical practice by providing more specific information to clinicians. Less ambiguous labeling may have the potential to advance research by lowering measurement imprecision. We complement discussion by presenting empirical analysis on 5,995 participants (aged > 65) from National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS-2011). Ambiguous labeling of mobility may unintentionally obscure what is known about perceived capacity for ambulation and stair-climbing. Because creating low-cost and readily-available measures of health in the population has the potential to advance public health knowledge, efforts should continue to standardize and clarify measures of mobility.