Abstract / Summary
Abstract Community mobility screening combines measures that represent different functional tasks, yet their correlates may not be interchangeable across regional field samples. We harmonised cross-sectional assessments from 848 candidates in Beijing, Taiyuan/Shanxi and Zhengzhou; 769 community-dwelling adults aged at least 60 years entered analysis. Outcome-specific, site-adjusted linear models used standardised coefficients, HC3 standard errors and Benjamini–Hochberg correction. Older age was associated with slower gait speed ( β = -0.30), lower cadence ( β = -0.27), longer Timed Up and Go duration ( β = 0.43) and a lower single-leg balance index ( β = -0.22). Higher body mass index was associated with greater plantar contact area ( β = 0.24; all preceding q ≤ 4.73e − 06). In the 459-participant two-site handgrip subcohort, greater strength was associated with faster gait and higher cadence. It was also associated with shorter Timed Up and Go duration and a higher balance index (absolute β = 0.19–0.31; all q ≤ 0.006). Ankle-flexion range of motion showed no consistent independent association, while the age–Timed Up and Go association varied by site and was nonlinear. The results support outcome-specific interpretation but not causal inference or national generalisation.