TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the walking speed of older adults
T2 - The influence of walkway length
AU - Ng, Shamay S.M.
AU - Ng, Phoebe C.M.
AU - Lee, Connie Y.W.
AU - Ng, Elva S.W.
AU - Tong, Mimi H.W.
AU - Fong, Shirley S.M.
AU - Tsang, William W.N.
PY - 2013/9
Y1 - 2013/9
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of walkway length (5, 8, or 10 m) on measurements of comfortable and maximum walking speed in healthy older adults. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study at a university-based rehabilitation center, 25 healthy older adults (mean age, 60.3 ± 8.3 yrs) participated in timed walking at both comfortable and maximum speeds with different walkway lengths (5-, 8-, and 10-m walkway distances) measured by a stopwatch. RESULTS: Walkway length did not affect either comfortable walking speed (P = 0.319) or maximum walking speed (P = 0.568). For all walkway lengths, comfortable speed was significantly different from maximum speed (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Different walkway lengths (5, 8, and 10 m) do not affect both comfortable and maximum walking speed and can yield consistent results in measuring gait speed clinically. A 5-m walkway with standardized 2-m acceleration and 2-m deceleration distances is recommended because it occupies less space and imposes less stress on the healthy older adults.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of walkway length (5, 8, or 10 m) on measurements of comfortable and maximum walking speed in healthy older adults. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study at a university-based rehabilitation center, 25 healthy older adults (mean age, 60.3 ± 8.3 yrs) participated in timed walking at both comfortable and maximum speeds with different walkway lengths (5-, 8-, and 10-m walkway distances) measured by a stopwatch. RESULTS: Walkway length did not affect either comfortable walking speed (P = 0.319) or maximum walking speed (P = 0.568). For all walkway lengths, comfortable speed was significantly different from maximum speed (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Different walkway lengths (5, 8, and 10 m) do not affect both comfortable and maximum walking speed and can yield consistent results in measuring gait speed clinically. A 5-m walkway with standardized 2-m acceleration and 2-m deceleration distances is recommended because it occupies less space and imposes less stress on the healthy older adults.
KW - Elderly
KW - Speed
KW - Walking
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84883308353
U2 - 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31828769d0
DO - 10.1097/PHM.0b013e31828769d0
M3 - Article
C2 - 23478456
AN - SCOPUS:84883308353
SN - 0894-9115
VL - 92
SP - 776
EP - 780
JO - American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
IS - 9
ER -