Identification and Prediction of the Walking Cadence Required to Reach Moderate Intensity Using Individually-Determined Relative Moderate Intensity in Older Adults.

Many international agencies recommend using 40% of VO2reserve to individually prescribe moderate aerobic intensity to achieve health benefits. Few studies have evaluated the walking cadence needed to reach that intensity for older adults. A total of 121 apparently healthy adults with an average age of 69 and an average VO2peak of 24.1 ± 6.7 ml/kg/min (women) and 28.9 ± 9.1 ml/kg/min (men) were studied. Walking cadence at moderate intensity was established when participants reached 40% of VO2reserve on an indoor flat surface using a portable metabolic cart. Other clinical variables potentially associated with walking cadence were collected to create a clinical algorithm. Mean walking cadence to reach moderate intensity was 115 ± 10 steps per minute. The best algorithm to predict the walking cadence needed to reach moderate intensity in this sample was 113.6-0.23 (body weight in kg) + 0.21 (self-selected walking cadence in steps per minute).