WALKING FUNCTION
Timed Measures
Timed Up and Go
Assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults including sit to stand, walking forward, turning around, and stand to sit. Age norms and cut offs for fall risk, independence in ADLs, and need for assistive device have been established.
Quality Measures
Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)/Tinetti
Lower level measures gait and balance, scored on ability to perform specific tasks. Add 3 tasks to SPPB and POMA is competed: 1. Standing perturbation, 2. standing eyes closed, 3. standing feet together.
Modified Gait Abnormality Scale
Higher level valid measure of 7 gait variables associated with risk of falling, can be used in conjunction with gait speed to get quality and quantity measures. Can be used if Tinetti/POMA is too basic.
Dynamic Stepping and Walking
4 Square Step Test
Assesses ability to step fwd, back, right and left over 1 inch object. Cut offs have been established for fall risk (>15 sec = high fall risk).
Figure of 8 Walk Test (F8WT)
The F8WT uses a path where the participant is asked to walk a figure of eight shape around two cones. Scores are recorded in three areas: 1) speed (time for completion), 2) amplitude (number of steps taken), and 3) accuracy or "smoothness".