Better assessment of physical function: item improvement is neglected but essential

Table 4 Worst and best responses to selected capability and performance items by using the identical response set ^a

	Capability: (Present tense -- "Are you able to ...)			Performance: (Past tense -- "Did you ...)
	Number	Unable to do [Worst] (%)	Without any difficulty [Best] (%)	Number	Unable to do [Worst] (%)	Without any difficulty [Best] (%)
Get in and out of bed	75	0	84	75	0	87
Walk outdoors on flat ground	78	8	65	81	4	60
Walk a block	78	9	56	81	10	59
Use a hammer to pound a nail	81	7	72	78	8	50^b
Climb several flights of stairs	78	18	35	81	19	37
Run or jog 2 miles	81	78	5	78	71	8
Mean percentage, all items		20.0	52.8		18.7	50.2
Ratio of worst/best function response			38%			37%

^aWithout any difficulty; With a little difficulty; With some difficulty; With much difficulty; Unable to do
^bP < 0.01 difference between capability and performance item.

ISSN: 1478-6362