Cognitive status and ambulation in geriatric rehabilitation: Walking without thinking?

Ruchinskas RA, Singer HK, Repetz NK. Cognitive status and ambulation in geriatric rehabilitation: walking without thinking? Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1224-8. Objective: To assess the relation between cognitive and ambulatory abilities in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients. Study Design: Survey study of geriatric cohorts. Setting: Inpatient university hospital rehabilitation unit. Patients: One hundred fifty urban geriatric rehabilitation patients with orthopedic, neurologic, or medical diagnoses. Main Outcome Measures: Functional Independence Measure™ (FIM), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination. Results: Both cognitive measures predicted admission and discharge total FIM scores, continence status, and activities of daily living (ADL) scores. Neither measure could predict admission or discharge FIM ambulation scores better than demographic variables. Conclusion: While cognitive status affects the overall rehabilitation course and ultimate functional status of the geriatric patient, it does not predict walking or stair climbing ability. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation