title: Screening for mobility disorders by the Mobility Control subscale of the short version of the Sickness Impact Profile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the usefulness of the Mobility Control subscale (MC scale) of the short version of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP68) as a simple self-administered questionnaire for screening mobility disorders in a population of independent living elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SIP68-MC scale was compared with the results of one functional test as independent criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 81 people of 70 years and older was selected from a potential population of over 200 people. All were independent living elderly persons selected from a general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The short version of the Sickness Impact Profile and questions about falling last year were applied. Three functional tests were carried out: walking 10 metres, get up and sit down in a chair five times and a test for standing balance. A trained observer rated all tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is shown that the sensitivity of the MC scale (cut-off point: 1) with the total functional score is 91%, with a relative low specificity (59%). The relationship between the SIP-MC score and falling frequency is significant when there is a falling frequency equal to or more than two times a year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that the MC scale is a useful test for screening mobility disorders in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Centre Hoensbroeck, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jannink-Nijlant
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Diederiks
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Metsemakers
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome