Gait Speed and Variability for Usual Pace and Pedestrian Crossing Conditions in Older Adults Using the GAITRite Walkway

Abstract

Objectives: To determine gait characteristics of community-dwelling older adults at different speeds and during a crosswalk simulation. Methods: Twenty-two older adults completed walking trials at self-selected slow, usual, and fast paces, and at a crosswalk simulation, using the GAITRite walkway. These objective measures were complemented by self-report health and mobility questionnaires. Results: Gait speeds at self-selected slow, usual, and fast paces were 98.7 (18.1) cm/s, 140.9 (20.4) cm/s, and 174.0 (20.6) cm/s, respectively, and at simulated crosswalk conditions was 144.2 (22.3) cm/s. For usual pace, right step length variability was 2.0 (1.4) cm and step time variability was 13.6 (7.2) ms, compared with 2.4 (1.3) cm and 17.3 (9.7) ms, respectively, for crosswalk conditions. Discussion: Our sample of healthy older adults walked at a speed exceeding standards for crossing urban streets; however, in response to a crosswalk signal, participants adopted a significantly faster and more variable gait.

Older adults must hurry at pedestrian lights! A cross-sectional analysis of preferred and fast walking speed under single- and dual-task conditions

“…A recent systematic review, for instance, reported mean walking speed requirements of 0.44, 0.73–0.78, and 1.32 m/s, in the large cities of Melbourne, Singapore, and Los Angeles, respectively [ 75 ]. However, considering the limited number of crossroads that were analyzed in these studies, it still seems adequate to compare older adult’s walking speed with the 1.2 m/s standard recommended by national traffic authorities, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and Switzerland [ 11 , 13 – 15 , 18 , 19 ].…”

“…In contrast to what intuitively might be assumed, aging itself is not a strong explanatory factor for the observable slowing of preferred gait speed in the older population. Healthy older adults walk at a speed that exceeds standards for crossing urban streets; furthermore, they are able to adopt a significantly faster gait in response to a crosswalk signal albeit this comes at the cost of increased gait variability [ 11 ]. It seems that especially potentially modifiable factors such as impairment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease, are related to the observed slowing of walking speed in many older adults [ 12 ].…”

“…Preferred walking speed of a substantial proportion of older adults is slower than 1.2 m/s [ 13 – 17 ]. This speed is required, however, at pedestrian lights in Switzerland and many other countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa, to cross streets safely within the green–yellow phase [ 11 , 13 , 14 , 18 , 19 ]. For instance, a recent comprehensive investigation from Ireland reported that 31% of older adults in the age group of 65–74 years and 61% of those older than 75 years were walking slower than 1.2 m/s at their preferred speed [ 13 ].…”

Gait Speed with Anti-Slip Devices on Icy Pedestrian Crossings Relate to Perceived Fall-Risk and Balance

“…When needed, most healthy older people can adopt a faster speed sufficient to cross urban streets in summer conditions. A higher speed can also induce more variable gait in terms of step length and time variability [30]. There are indications that higher gait variability may increase the risk of falls [31].…”

Correlation among triceps surae muscle structure, balance, and gait in persons with stroke

“…The measurement method was based on a walking board of 5 m, which takes into account the acceleration and the deceleration section of the gait with a margin of 2 m each. Altogether, 9 m of gait was measured three times and the average value was calculated [33]. The spatiotemporal variables of the stance phase and the swing phase included gait speed, cadence, step length, stride length, stance time, and swing time.…”