Gait speed at usual pace in acute care setting s was 0.46 m/s ( 95 % CI : 0.34 - 0.57 ) , which was significantly slower than the gait speed of 0.74 m/s ( 95 % CI : 0.65 - 0.83 ) recorded in outpatient setting s. CONCLUSIONS Gait speed is an important measure in comprehensive geriatric assessment .
The consolidation of data from multiple studies reported in this meta- analysis highlights the mobility limitations experienced by older people in clinical setting s and the need for ongoing rehabilitation to attain levels sufficient for reintegration in the community
BACKGROUND  Gait speed  is a quick , inexpensive , reliable measure of functional capacity with well-documented predictive value for major health-related outcomes .
Numerous epidemiological studies have documented gait speed in healthy , community-dwelling older people .
Rollator use adversely impacts on assessment of gait and mobility during geriatric rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of the use of a rollator walking aid on assessment of gait and mobility . DESIGN Prospect i ve , longitudinal study . SUBJECTS Geriatric patients during inpatient rehabilitation ( n=109 ; mean age 83.1 years ) . METHODS Assessment at the beginning and prior to discharge from rehabilitation using : gait- analysis ( GAITRite ® , speed , cadence , stride-time , stride-length , base-of-support , double-support ) , Performance-Oriented-Mobility- Assessment ( POMA ) , and Timed-Up- and -Go ( TUG ) . Differences between outcomes obtained without and with rollator use were calculated for baseline assessment and for changes over time for the total group and subgroups according to diagnosis ( hip fracture vs. other ) . Responsiveness was calculated using st and ardized response means . RESULTS Baseline performances were significantly ( p ≤ 0.05 ) higher when assessed with vs. without rollator in the total group and in hip fracture ( except cadence ) and other ( except cadence , stride-time , TUG ) patients . Changes over time were significantly greater when assessed without vs. with rollator in the total group and hip fracture ( except cadence , POMA ) and other patients ( except base-of-support , double-support ) . Tests without rollator showed superior responsiveness ( except TUG ) . CONCLUSION The use of rollator walking aids limits the detection of initial gait and mobility deficits , adversely affects the assessment of changes over time in gait and mobility performance , and reduces the responsiveness of tests . When full weight-bearing is permitted , assessment without a walking aid is recommended
Gait speed at usual pace in acute care setting s was 0.46 m/s ( 95 % CI : 0.34 - 0.57 ) , which was significantly slower than the gait speed of 0.74 m/s ( 95 % CI : 0.65 - 0.83 ) recorded in outpatient setting s. CONCLUSIONS Gait speed is an important measure in comprehensive geriatric assessment .
The consolidation of data from multiple studies reported in this meta- analysis highlights the mobility limitations experienced by older people in clinical setting s and the need for ongoing rehabilitation to attain levels sufficient for reintegration in the community
BACKGROUND  Gait speed  is a quick , inexpensive , reliable measure of functional capacity with well-documented predictive value for major health-related outcomes .
Numerous epidemiological studies have documented gait speed in healthy , community-dwelling older people .