Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
Activities of Daily Living
Also written as: ADL — Activities of Daily Living
Basic self-care tasks used to assess functional independence in physical therapy practice.
Full Definition
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) encompass fundamental self-care activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and mobility. Physical therapists assess ADL performance to determine functional status and establish treatment goals. These assessments are critical for discharge planning and insurance coverage decisions. ADL evaluations help therapists design interventions that directly impact patient independence and quality of life.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize when referring to the formal assessment category; use ADLs for plural.
In Context
- "The patient demonstrated significant improvement in Activities of Daily Living following the six-week rehabilitation program." — Progress note
- "Insurance coverage for extended therapy depends on documented deficits in Activities of Daily Living." — Authorization request
Also known as
ADLs
self-care activities
functional activities
Don't confuse with
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living