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The accuracy of routine information on the response of a patient to rehabilitation was questioned. At the multidisciplinary ward round there may be on the one hand an inhibitory effect on the patient's performance due to the presence of a large team, but on the other reluctance of nurses and therapists to concede that all their efforts may only have maintained status quo. We present a randomised, controlled, crossover study of the effect of the ward round on a test of the ability to stand, walk a fixed distance, turn and sit down. Surprisingly, performance was not inhibited by the round: the 20 patients studied performed the test with equal skill, but greater speed, on the round than in a more private context. Cognitive function had a greater influence on the amount of help needed in standing and sitting safely, than on ability to walk and turn independently.