The de morton mobility index: normative data for a clinically useful mobility instrument

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Health Assessment

Background:

• Assessing mobility is crucial for older adults' health.
• Normative data are essential for interpreting mobility measures.
• The DEMMI is a novel instrument covering the full mobility spectrum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To obtain normative data for the DEMMI in healthy community-dwelling older adults.
• To establish reference scores for the DEMMI across different mobility levels.
• To support the clinical and research application of the DEMMI.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study.
• Recruited 183 healthy community-dwelling adults aged 60+.
• Collected DEMMI scores from participants in Canada and Australia.

Main Results:

• Older age groups demonstrated significantly lower mean DEMMI mobility scores (P < 0.05).
• Individuals using mobility aids or living in assisted settings had lower scores.
• DEMMI scores showed no significant difference based on sex or falls history.

Conclusions:

• Normative data for the DEMMI are now available for a healthy older adult population.
• These reference scores will aid in the clinical interpretation of DEMMI results.
• The DEMMI can be effectively used across the mobility spectrum in various settings.