Rethinking Movement: From Capacity to Context

Mobility is often evaluated based on what a person can do in clinical settings, particularly in rehabilitation contexts. However, clinical assessments rarely capture real-world mobility or the environmental, psychological, and behavioral factors that shape it. Framed in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, in this paper I explore the dual role of movement, as both a target outcome of rehabilitation and a predictive biomarker of recovery and adaptation. Using spinal cord injury as a case example, current approaches emphasizing capacity are highlighted in how they fall short of understanding actual performance. Drawing on predictive modeling, pilot data, and engagement with individuals with lived experience, a conceptualization of mobility is presented that prioritizes context, choice, and real-life performance.