Functional Mobility Scale
Also written as: FMS — Functional Mobility Scale
A validated clinical rating scale that classifies an individual's walking ability across three specific distances (5 m, 50 m, 500 m), reflecting mobility in home, school, and community contexts.
Full Definition
The Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) assigns a score of 1–6 at each of three distances—5 metres, 50 metres, and 500 metres—to describe whether an individual uses a wheelchair, walker, crutches, a stick, or walks independently. It is widely used in pediatric and adult rehabilitation to document changes in ambulation over time or following intervention. Editors should render the scale name with initial capitals and present the acronym in parentheses on first use. The three distances are conventionally written in metres, not yards, and each score should be reported as a triplet, e.g., FMS 5/50/500: 4/4/3.
Usage
Usage note: Report scores as a triplet (e.g., FMS 4/4/3) rather than a single composite figure. Do not abbreviate without first spelling out the full name.
In Context
- "The patient's FMS 5/50/500 scores improved from 2/2/1 at baseline to 4/4/3 following twelve weeks of gait training." — Clinical progress note
- "Authors should report the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) triplet in full for each assessment point." — Journal manuscript style guide