A Mobility Task to Identify Risk for Disability

该项目的目标是开发一种可用于补充目前用于评估老年人功能的移动任务。这项研究开发了一项任务，简化了所需的设备，同时保留了CAR任务的心理测量特性。CAR任务是一项客观的性能测试，使用汽车的铝框架模型，测量打开车门、进入桶形座椅、关门、重新打开车门、下车、立即移动到直立位置所需的时间。新任务结合了横向移动、弯腰、重量转移和转移的元素，类似于CAR任务的要求，同时使用简单的便携式设备，可以被许多研究人员复制。先前的研究表明，CAR任务具有一些在爬楼梯的时间（最大性能任务）、首选步行速度（自定速度任务）或自我残疾报告等任务中不存在的特性。例如，研究发现，平衡测量（前后方向支持的功能基础）可以预测CAR任务表现的下降，但对自我报告的残疾、爬楼梯时间或首选步行速度没有预测作用。从实际的角度来看，作为乘客难以或无法进出汽车会严重限制身体虚弱的老年人的旅行能力。任务的标准是可靠，有效，易于在诊所/社区管理，并且对通过体育活动干预策略的变化敏感。在1-2年期间，正在若干次次级研究中评估新任务的测量特性，目前正在对数据进行分析。首先，对50名功能状态从非残疾到严重残疾的老年人进行了新任务的重测信度检验。天花板和地板效果将被评估。其次，进行了已知组检验。两组25人，一组无/轻度残疾，另一组有中度/重度残疾，被用来检验测试的有效性。第三，将对新测试与强度、平衡和功能表现的测量进行相关性分析。第四，参与者样本在二维正面平面运动学分析中进行了检查，以确定是否在任务中表现较差

The goal of this project is to develop a mobility task that can be used to complement those currently used to assess function in older adults. This research has developed a task that simplifies the equipment needed while preserving the psychometric properties of the CAR task, an objective performance test that uses an aluminum frame mock-up of an automobile and measures the time needed to open the door, get into a bucket seat, close the door, re-open the door, and step out, immediately moving to an erect position. The new task incorporates elements of lateral mobility, stooping, weight shift, and transfer, similar to the demands of the CAR task, while using simple, portable equipment that can be reproduced by many researchers. Previous research has shown that the CAR task has some properties that do not exist in tasks such as time to climb stairs (a maximal performance task), preferred walking speed (a self-paced performance task), or in a self-report of disability. For example, it was have found that a balance measure (functional base of support in the anterior-posterior direction) was predictive of decline in CAR task performance, but not in self-reported disability, stair climb time, or preferred walking speed. From a practical perspective, difficulty or inability to enter and exit a car as a passenger can severely limit the ability of a frail older person to travel. Criteria for the task were that it be reliable, valid, easy to administer in the clinic/community, and sensitive to change via physical activity intervention strategies. The measurement properties of the new task are being evaluated in several sub-studies over a 1-2 year period and analyses of the data are now under way. First, test-retest reliability of the new task have been examined in 50 older adults, utilizing persons whose functional status ranges from non-disabled to severely disabled. Ceiling and floor effects will be evaluated. Second, a known groups test has been performed. Two groups of 25, one with no/little disability, the other with moderate/severe disability, has been utilzed to examine the validity of the test. Third, correlation analyses will be conducted between the new test and measures of strength, balance, and functional performance. Fourth, a sample of participants has been examined in a 2-D frontal plane kinematic analysis to determine if poorer performance on the task