Traditional approaches to functional assessment in arthritis

Both clinical rheumatology and medical rehabilitation have traditional functional assessment approaches to patients with arthritis. Drawing from both, a suggested "universe of function" for rheumatic disease patients is presented. The variables included begin with components of the physical examination and continue to maneuvers performed by the patient, mobility, activities of daily living (ADL), upper extremity function, extended living functions, and global assessment instruments. The development of standardized methodologic techniques is greater for some variables, especially ADL. In all, there is a need for a consensus approach so that aggregate data generated in different studies and programs will be more comparable.