A Systematic Review of Thirty-One Assessment Tests to Evaluate Mobility in Older Adults

Table 5

Comparison of the 31 mobility assessment tests used for healthy older adults and geriatric care.

N	Test	Purpose	Format of Assessment	Equipment	Time of administration
4.1.1	Timed Up and Go (TUG)	Assessment of balance & walking ability	Performance-Based	Armed chair of approx. 45 cm seat height and 65 cm arm height and Stopwatch	< 15 minutes
4.1.2	Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)	Examination of gait, balance, strength & endurance	Performance-Based	8-ft walkway, Unarmed chair, and Stopwatch	10 to 15 minutes
4.1.3	Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)	Evaluation of physical performance, endurance & mobility	Performance-Based	100 ft. hallway and Stopwatch	Up to 6 minutes
4.1.4	8 Foot-Up-and-Go (UG)	Measurement of power, speed, ability & dynamic balance	Performance-Based	Armed chair, Stopwatch and Cone	Easily & safely
4.1.5	Usual/Habitual Gait Speed (UGS or HGS)	Evaluation of gait speed	Performance-Based	Hallway and Stopwatch	Dependent on the specified walking distance
4.1.6	Physical Performance Test (PPT)	Monitoring multiple domains of physical function in frail & community-dwelling elderlies	Performance-Based	Book, Pencil, Paper, Shelf, Stairs and Jacket	< 10 minutes
4.1.7	5-Time Sit-to-Stand (5TSTS)	Evaluation of lower limb strengths, muscle forces, balance & functional status	Performance-Based	Unarmed chair and Stopwatch	In a short time
4.1.8	L-Test of Functional Mobility (L-Test)	Initially initiated to evaluate gait of subjects with lower limb amputation	Performance-Based	L-shape walkway, Chair and Stopwatch	10th of a second
4.1.9	Backward Walking (BW)	Evaluation of mobility sensitively	Performance-Based	No need of equipment	Dependent on the specified walking distance
4.1.10	De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI)	Measurement of elderly mobility through clinical settings	Performance-Based	Bed, Plinth, Armed chair of 45 cm seat height, Pen and Stopwatch	Average of 8.8 minutes (SD 3.9)
4.1.11	Figure of 8 Walk (F8W) Test	Characterize the complex walking abilities & skills	Performance-Based	2 cones and Stopwatch	Minimal time
4.1.12	Instrumented Stand & Walk (ISAW) Test	Assessment of balance & gait through synchronized body-worn sensors	Performance-Based	Opal™ movement with 3D angular rate sensor, 3D accelerometer and Gyroscope	Quick protocol
4.1.13	Hierarchical Assessment of Balance & Mobility (HABAM)	Graphical display of balance & mobility changes over time through mobility, transfer and balance evaluations	Performance-Based	Walkway, Bed and Stopwatch	Longitudinal study
4.1.14	Trail Walking Test (TWT)	Evaluation of gait through motor cognition & motor function	Performance-Based	25 m^2 area, 15 flags, Marker and Stopwatch	Easily made
4.1.15	Parallel Walk Test (PWT)	Assessment of dynamic balance & stability during ambulation	Performance-Based	Marked line on floor	Quick test
4.1.16	Charité Mobility Index (CHARMI)	Monitoring of mobilization through positioning, transfers & locomotion	Performance-Based	Bed, Chair, Stairs and Wheelchair	Up to 15 minutes
4.1.17	Standardized walking Obstacle Course (SWOC)	Evaluation of mobility capacity under circumstances & ability to negotiate obstacles	Performance-Based	Hallway, Chair, Dark glasses and Tray	Not found
4.1.18	Pick-Up Weight Test	Assessment of the ability to reach down and pick up an object	Performance-Based	Object of approx. 5 Kg	Few seconds
4.2.1	Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment	Measurement of balance & gait	Performance & Judgement Based	15 ft. walkway, Armless chair, and Stopwatch	10 to 15 minutes
4.2.2	Berg Balance Scale (BBS)	Assessment of balance & transfers in elderly people	Performance & Judgement Based	15 ft. walkway, 2 Standardized Chair (with and without arm rests), Obstacles, and Step/Stool	15 to 20 minutes
4.2.3	Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)	Evaluation of functional stability & fall risks	Performance & Judgement Based	Walking hallway, Stopwatch, Obstacle and Stairs	15 minutes
4.2.4	Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BesTest)	Evaluation of 6 different balance control systems	Performance & Judgement Based	Stopwatch, 10 degrees incline ramp, Stair step (15 m in height), Obstacles, Chair and Tape	May take up to 40 minutes for diseased people
4.2.5	Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)	Evaluation of functional stability & fall risks	Performance & Judgement Based	Walking hallway, Stopwatch and Stairs	5 to 10 minutes
4.2.6	Alternate Step Test (AST)	Assessment of balance & lateral stability	Performance & Judgement Based	Step/Stool of 18 cm height approximately	Few seconds
4.2.7	Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS)	Evaluation of gait, transfer & balance through functional activities	Performance & Judgement Based	Hallway, Bed, Chair, Yardstick and Stopwatch	15 minutes
4.2.8	Physical Performance & Mobility Examination (PPME)	Evaluation of the physical functioning and mobility of hospitalized elderly	Performance & Judgement Based	Bed, Chair, Stopwatch and Standardized step	Approximately 10 minutes
4.2.9	Functional Obstacle Course (FOC)	Evaluation of balance & mobility dysfunction	Performance & Judgement Based	4 stations with different types of floor, 2 ramps, 2 sets of stairs, Chair, Foam cylinders and Stopwatch	274.6 ± 131.2 seconds for faller & non-faller
4.2.10	TURN180	Evaluation of dynamic postural stability	Performance & Judgement Based	No need of equipment	Few seconds
4.2.11	Duke Progressive Mobility Skills Test	Assessment of mobility through static & dynamic balance evaluation	Performance & Judgement Based	Chair, Walkway, Obstacles, Stairs and Stopwatch	Approximately 10 minutes
4.3.1	Life Space Mobility Assessment (LSMA)	Evaluation of mobility based on how far and how often a person transfers to 5 selected zones	Self-Report	No need of equipment	On a period of 1 month
4.3.2	Modified Gait Efficacy Scale (mGES)	Evaluation of mobility based on self-efficacy in walking	Self-Report	Obstacles, Stairs with handrail and Curb	Less than 5 minutes