Lower extremity physical performance, self-reported mobility difficulty, and use of compensatory strategies for mobility by elderly women.

Objective: To describe the relationship between lower extremity physical performance, self-reported mobility difficulty, and self-reported use of compensatory strategies (CSs) for mobility inside the home.

Design: Cross-sectional exploratory study.

Setting: Community-dwelling elders.

Lower extremity physical performance and use of compensatory strategies for mobility.

Objectives: To compare measured lower extremity physical performance in the clinic with the methods used to carry out mobility tasks at home and to identify key factors influencing day-to-day task performance.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of the Women's Health and Aging Study I.

Setting: Community-dwelling female residents of Baltimore, Maryland.