Justin William Keogh1, Hugh Senior2, Elaine Margaret Beller3, Timothy Henwood4. 1. Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia; Human Potential Centre, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand; Cluster for Health Improvement, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia. Electronic address: jkeogh@bond.edu.au. 2. Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Ipswich, Australia. 3. Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia; Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. 4. Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia; University of Queensland/Blue Care Research and Practice Development Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To quantify habitual walking speed and estimate the prevalence of low habitual walking speed (<0.8m/s and <0.5m/s) in nursing home residents; and secondarily to gain some insight into whether demographic, health, and functional outcomes could predict the nursing home residents' walking speed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Eleven nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing home residents (N=102 [37%] of 273 eligible, randomly selected residents from 11 nursing homes consented to participate in this study). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was habitual walking speed assessed over a distance of 2.4m. Secondary outcomes including body composition, muscle strength, balance and physical performance as assessed via the Short Physical Performance Battery, and historical and current demographic and health measures were all assessed as potential predictors of walking speed. RESULTS: Mean walking speed was .37±.26 m/s, meaning that 97% and 75% of participants had walking speeds <0.8m/s and <0.5m/s, respectively. Multivariable linear regression identified physical activity status before 50 years of age and daily sitting time as independent predictors of walking speed (r(2)=.25, P<.05), although this regression only accounted for 25% of the variance in walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all participants in this study had below-normal walking speed, a known clinical predictor of physical performance. Because walking speed is a clinical marker of many age-related adverse outcomes in older age, efforts to increase or at least maintain walking speed in nursing home residents should be considered. Some evidence suggests that progressive resistance training may offset these declines in walking speed.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify habitual walking speed and estimate the prevalence of low habitual walking speed (<0.8m/s and <0.5m/s) in nursing home residents; and secondarily to gain some insight into whether demographic, health, and functional outcomes could predict the nursing home residents' walking speed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Eleven nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing home residents (N=102 [37%] of 273 eligible, randomly selected residents from 11 nursing homes consented to participate in this study). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was habitual walking speed assessed over a distance of 2.4m. Secondary outcomes including body composition, muscle strength, balance and physical performance as assessed via the Short Physical Performance Battery, and historical and current demographic and health measures were all assessed as potential predictors of walking speed. RESULTS: Mean walking speed was .37±.26 m/s, meaning that 97% and 75% of participants had walking speeds <0.8m/s and <0.5m/s, respectively. Multivariable linear regression identified physical activity status before 50 years of age and daily sitting time as independent predictors of walking speed (r(2)=.25, P<.05), although this regression only accounted for 25% of the variance in walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all participants in this study had below-normal walking speed, a known clinical predictor of physical performance. Because walking speed is a clinical marker of many age-related adverse outcomes in older age, efforts to increase or at least maintain walking speed in nursing home residents should be considered. Some evidence suggests that progressive resistance training may offset these declines in walking speed.
Authors: Luis Galhardas; Armando Raimundo; Jesús Del Pozo-Cruz; José Marmeleira Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-21 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Justin W L Keogh; Tim Henwood; Paul A Gardiner; Anthony G Tuckett; Sharon Hetherington; Kevin Rouse; Paul Swinton Journal: PeerJ Date: 2019-11-27 Impact factor: 2.984