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 .
Fear of falling in new long-term care enrollees.
OBJECTIVES To measure the prevalence of fear of falling in older adults at the time of long- term care ( LTC ) enrollment and identify potentially treatable risk factors for low fall related self-efficacy . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING Three LTC programs in Upstate New York . PARTICIPANTS 112 new enrollees in LTC , aged 55 or older , who passed a cognitive screen .  MEASUREMENTS Self-reported falls , the falls efficacy scale ( FES ) , medical conditions , the short geriatric depression scale , and physical performance measures ( Berg balance scale , hip flexor , knee extensor and grip strength , gait speed and a six-minute walk ) . RESULTS Of the 54 subjects ( 48.2 % ) who reported fear of falling , 41 ( 75.9 % ) reported activity modification secondary to fear . Fearful subjects were more likely to be female ( P = .003 ) , report low back pain ( P = .030 ) and lower extremity arthritis ( P = .037 ) . Fearful subjects were weaker at the hip ( P < .001 ) and knee ( P = .001 ) , and had shorter six-minute walk distances . Subjects with better FES scores had better Berg scores ( P < .001 ) , had greater hip and knee strength , had faster gait speeds and walked further in six minutes ( P < .001 , P = .006 , P = .001 and P = .001 respectively ) . Subjects with low FES scores and fearful subjects were more likely to have depressive symptoms ( P = .003 , P = .044 , respectively ) . CONCLUSION Falls and fear of falling are more common in new LTC enrollees than in previously described community dwelling and SNF cohorts . Attention to associated characteristics like depression , arthritis , low back pain and lower extremity weakness may identify opportunities to reduce fear and improve patient safety during this transitional period
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 .