Normative values for the High-level Mobility Assessment tool (HiMAT) for 5-12 year old children were recently published. This paper continues a theme of research in the assessment of people with high-level mobility limitations. Until recently high-level mobility had received little attention in neurological rehabilitation as the focus of most research had been lower levels of mobility, such as the ability to transfer, independent walking and walking speed. Yet higher levels of mobility are important for participation and quality of life in adults with neurological conditions, as well as play and social integration for younger children and adolescents.

The past 5-10 years has seen a rapid rise in research papers reporting on running and high-level mobility in children and adults with neurological conditions. This is consistent with the gradual refocusing of the traditional provision of healthcare towards that which is patient-centred. Higher levels of mobility, beyond that required for independent level walking, may not be relevant in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. However, the ability to run and capacity to perform higher-level mobility tasks is important for many social, leisure, sporting and employment activities. As the importance of higher levels of mobility for community integration has become an area for targeted interventions, the accurate assessment of high-level mobility limitations is critical to evaluate rehabilitative outcomes.

The HiMAT was originally developed for the assessment of mobility limitations in adolescents and adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This was due to the ceiling effects of outcome measures for mobility used in adult neurological rehabilitation. The original HiMAT was a 13-item tool that includes items such as running, jumping and hopping and stairs. More recently, a revised 8-item HiMAT was developed as a result of advances in Rasch analysis. Briefly, performances are timed (eg, walking, running or stair items) or measured (eg, bounding item) and scored according to performance quartiles (i.e. a score of 0 if unable to perform, or 1-4). Higher scores on each item indicate better performance, and each item is summed for an overall HiMAT score. Maximum scores for the original and revised HiMAT are 54 and 32 respectively. The HiMAT was developed with several important clinimetric properties in mind. For use in clinical practice, it had to be valid and reliable, but also discriminative, responsive, not susceptible to a ceiling effect, and have high clinical utility.

International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation welcomes research articles, review articles, methodologies, commentaries, case reports, perspectives and short communications encompassing all aspects of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. This journal provides latest developments in theoretical, experimental and clinical investigations in physical Medicine & Rehabilitation for Physiatrists and Rehabilitation researches.

This peer reviewed journal includes following topics but are not limited to: acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders and pain, neurologic conditions involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, amputation, prosthetics and orthotics, mobility, gait, rehabilitation of impairments associated with disabilities in adults and children, and neurophysiology and electrodiagnosis studies, etc. Contributions accross the globe from all types of professions in rehabilitation are therefore encouraged.

Submit manuscript as an e-mail attachment to the Editorial Office at manuscripts@longdom.org

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Editorial Team
Int J Phys Med Rehabil