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

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.