title: Effects of a mobility assistance dog on the performance of functional mobility tests among ambulatory individuals with physical impairments and functional disabilities.
abstract: This study aims to verify whether individuals with physical impairments and ambulatory disabilities perform functional mobility tests faster using an assistance dog for mobility (AD(Mob)). Thirty-four individuals with various physical impairments and functional disabilities performed at least one of the four functional mobility tests within their natural environment during an in-home assessment. Participants randomly performed the 10-meter walk test, the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, and the stair ascent and descent tests with and without an AD(Mob) during an in-home assessment. The main outcome measure was the time needed to complete all tests with and without an AD(Mob). When using an AD(Mob), many participants (> or = 70.4%) were faster when performing the 10-meter walk test (15.7 +/- 8.5s vs. 19.1 +/- 11.2s), TUG test (23.6 +/- 14.2s vs. 27.3 +/- 16.5s), and stair ascent test (18.6 +/- 13.5s vs. 22.4 +/- 17.5s) compared to doing the tests without an AD(Mob). As for the stair descent test, the use of the AD(Mob) had no significant effect on performance (20.7 +/- 15.9s vs. 24.0 +/- 17.1s). When using an AD(Mob), the majority of individuals with physical impairments and functional disabilities significantly improved their performance (i.e., reduced their time) during the 10-meter walk test, the TUG test and the stair ascent test.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.forename: Dany H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Routhier
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martin-Lemoyne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult