Walking speed is a highly valid test , both at habitual and maximum speed .
Both habitual and maximum walking speeds are valid instruments , and they predict death , hospitalization/institutionalization , and decline in mobility
The number of available walking tests has increased dramatically over the past decades .
Therefore , it is highly important to help clinicians choose the most appropriate walking test for a specific setting .
This systematic review aim ed to critically evaluate the reliability , validity , and responsiveness of clinical walking speed in a broad population of elderly persons living in the community , sheltered housing , or institutions .
Improvement in usual gait speed predicts better survival in older adults.
OBJECTIVES To estimate the relationship between 1-year improvement in measures of health and physical function and 8-year survival . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING Medicare health maintenance organization and Veterans Affairs primary care programs . PARTICIPANTS Persons aged 65 and older ( N=439 ) . MEASUREMENTS Six measures of health and function assessed at baseline and quarterly over 1 year . Participants were classified as improved at 1 year , transiently improved , or never improved for each measure using a priori definitions of meaningful change : gait speed ( usual walking pace over 4 m ) , 0.1 m/s ; Short Physical Performance Battery , 1 point ; Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey physical function , 10 points ; EuroQol , 0.1 point ; National Health Interview activity of daily living scale , 2 points ; and global health change , two levels or reaching the ceiling . Mortality was ascertained from the National Death Index . Covariates included demographics , comorbidity , cognitive function , and hospitalization . RESULTS Of the six measures , only improved gait speed was associated with survival . Mortality after 8 years was 31.6 % , 41.2 % , and 49.3 % for those with improved , transiently improved , and never improved gait speed , respectively . The survival benefit for improvement at 1 year persisted after adjustment for covariates ( hazard ratio=0.42 , 95 % confidence interval=0.29 - 0.61 , P<.001 ) and was consistent across subgroups based on age , sex , ethnicity , initial gait speed , healthcare system , and hospitalization . CONCLUSION Improvement in usual gait speed predicts a substantial reduction in mortality . Because gait speed is easily measured , clinical ly interpretable , and potentially modifiable , it may be a useful " vital sign " for older adults . Further research is needed to determine whether interventions to improve gait speed affect survival
Walking speed is a highly valid test , both at habitual and maximum speed .
Both habitual and maximum walking speeds are valid instruments , and they predict death , hospitalization/institutionalization , and decline in mobility
The number of available walking tests has increased dramatically over the past decades .
Therefore , it is highly important to help clinicians choose the most appropriate walking test for a specific setting .
This systematic review aim ed to critically evaluate the reliability , validity , and responsiveness of clinical walking speed in a broad population of elderly persons living in the community , sheltered housing , or institutions .