Functional limitations in the physical domain deal with the performance of sensorimotor tasks, that is, total body actions that are typically components or elements of functional activities. These activities include basic activities of daily living (ADL), such as bathing, dressing, or feeding, and the more complex tasks known as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), such as occupational tasks, school-related skills, housekeeping, and recreational activities, or community mobility (driving, using public transportation), just to name a few.

A number of functional limitations that can arise from physical impairments, involve whole-body movements, and are necessary component motions of simple to complex daily living skills. Defining functional limitations in this way highlights the importance of identifying abnormal or absent component motions of motor skills through task analysis during the physical therapy examination and later integrating task-specific functional motions into a therapeutic exercise program.

Limitation of
• Reaching and grasping
• Lifting and carrying
• Pushing and pulling
• Bending and stooping
• Turning and twisting
• Throwing and catching
• Rolling
• Standing
• Squatting and kneeling
• Standing up and sitting down
• Getting in and out of bed
• Crawling, walking, running
• Ascending and descending stairs
• Hopping and jumping
• Kicking

When a person is unable or has only limited ability to perform any of the whole body component motions identified, decreased independence in ADL and IADL may occur, quality of life may become compromised, and hence, disability may ensue. The following is an example of this relationship between functional limitations and potential disability. To perform a basic home maintenance task (IADL), such as painting a room, a person must be able to grasp a paint brush or roller, climb a ladder, reach overhead, kneel, or stoop down to the floor. If any one of these functional movements is limited, it may not be possible to perform the overall task of painting the room. An essential element of a

physical therapy examination and evaluation is the analysis of motor tasks to identify the components of tasks that are difficult for a patient to perform. This analysis helps the therapist determine why a patient is unable to perform specific daily living tasks. This information coupled with identification and measurement of the impairments that are the source of the altered or absent component movement patterns, in turn, is used for treatment planning and selection of interventions to restore function and prevent potential disability.

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