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 .
Associations of demographic, functional, and behavioral characteristics with activity-related fear of falling among older adults transitioning to frailty.
OBJECTIVES To determine , in a cohort of older individuals transitioning to frailty ( defined by Speechley and Tinetti , 1991 ) who have previously fallen , whether there are significant associations between demographic , functional , and behavioral characteristics and activity-related fear of falling , using both the Falls Efficacy Scale ( FES ) and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale ( ABC ) . DESIGN Baseline cross-sectional analysis in a prospect i ve cohort intervention study . SETTING Twenty independent senior living facilities in Atlanta . PARTICIPANTS Seventeen male and 270 female subjects ( n = 287 ) , age 70 and older ( mean + /- st and ard deviation , 80.9 + /- 6.2 ) , with Mini-Mental State Examination score > or = 24 , transitioning to frailty , ambulatory ( with or without assistive device ) , medically stable , and having fallen in the past year . MEASUREMENTS Activity-related fear of falling was evaluated with the FES and ABC Scale . Because of the comparable data derived from each scale , associations with functional measures -related analyses were expressed using the latter . Depression was measured by Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale . Functional measurements included timed 360 degrees turn , functional reach test , timed 10-meter walk test , single limb st and s , picking up an object , and three chair st and s. RESULTS No statistically significant association was found between activity-related fear of falling and age . For the proposed activities , about half ( ABC , 48.1 % ; FES , 50.1 % ) of the subjects were concerned about falling or showed lack of confidence in controlling their balance . A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between FES and ABC ( r = -0.65 ; P < .001 ) . African-American subjects showed more activity-related fear of falling than did Caucasians ( odds ratio ( OR ) : 2.7 for ABC ; 2.1 for FES ) . Fearful individuals were more likely to be depressed and more likely to report the use of a walking aid than were nonfearful individuals . Fear of falling was significantly correlated to all of the functional measurements ( P < .05 ) . In a multivariable logistic regression model , depression , using a walking-aid , slow gait speed , and being an African-American were directly related to being more fearful of falling . CONCLUSIONS Activity-related fear of falling was present in almost half of this sample of older adults transitioning to frailty . The significant association of activity-related fear of falling with demographic , functional , and behavioral characteristics emphasizes the need for multidimensional intervention strategies to lessen activity-related fear of falling in this population
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 .