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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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Video Movement Analysis Using Smartphones (ViMAS): A Pilot Study
Published on: March 14, 2017
Development and validation of a video-animated tool for assessing mobility
W Jack Rejeski1, Edward H Ip, Anthony P Marsh
1Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, P.O. Box 7868, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA. rejeski@wfu.edu
Summary
A new video-animated tool, the Mobility Assessment Tool-short form (MAT-sf), accurately assesses mobility in older adults. This innovative measure demonstrates strong reliability and validity for clinical and research use.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Current self-report mobility measures lack contextual detail and require complex task judgments.
- There is a need for objective and validated tools to assess mobility in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, short-form, video-animated tool for assessing mobility.
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mobility Assessment Tool-short form (MAT-sf).
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of the MAT-sf using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
- The MAT-sf utilizes 10 animated video clips to assess task proficiency.
- Validation involved comparisons with the Pepper Assessment Tool for Disability (PAT-D), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and 400-m walk test.
Main Results:
- The study included 234 older adults (average age 81.9 years) with diverse health conditions.
- The MAT-sf exhibited good content validity, excellent test-retest reliability (r = .93), and criterion validity with the PAT-D.
- MAT-sf scores predicted SPPB and gait speed, and differentiated between individuals who could and could not complete a 400-m walk test.
Conclusions:
- The MAT-sf is a psychometrically sound and innovative measure for assessing mobility.
- The tool has practical applications in epidemiological research, translational science, and clinical settings.
