Background: De Morton mobility index (DEMMI) has no floor and ceiling effects. With patients on rehabilitation the ability to differentiate mobility level relating to walking ability was identified, but there was no difference relating to cause of mobility decline. The purpose of the study was to verify known-groups validity according to the walking ability and cause of mobility decline by participants with musculoskeletal impairments, and to evaluate floor and ceiling effects of the individual items. Methods: Eighty-one patients aged from 22 to 85 years, who were admitted to rehabilitation were included in the study. We used covariance analysis for different groups and calculated proportion of participants for an individual item of DEMMI at admission. Results: There were statistically significant differences of DEMMI according to walking ability and according to cause of mobility decline. There was no floor or ceiling effect for DEMMI. With DEMMI items the floor effect was present at all items except at the first four and the ceiling effect was present at three items. Conclusion: With DEMMI we can differentiate adult’s mobility level relating to walking ability and the cause of mobility decline. Presence of floor and ceiling effects of individual items confirms relationship of all items in this test.
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