title: Assessment of physical functioning: a conceptual model encompassing environmental factors and individual compensation strategies.
abstract: Commonly studied physical functions include activities such as walking and climbing stairs. Despite the acknowledged role of environmental factors and behavioral strategies to compensate for reduced performance capacity or environmental barriers in characterizing physical functioning, most assessments do not take these factors into account. This article presents a new conceptual model for assessment of relevant physical functioning while accounting for habitual environmental factors and compensation strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory St, Room 1867, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. ktea@umich.edu
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tomey
authors.forename: Maryfran R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sowers
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010809:Physical Fitness; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome