Reference values of maximum walking speed among independent community-dwelling Danish adults aged 60 to 79 years: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives

To establish reference values for maximum walking speed over 10 m for independent community-dwelling Danish adults, aged 60 to 79 years, and to evaluate the effects of gender and age.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Danish companies and senior citizens clubs.

Participants

Two hundred and fifty-two adults (167 women, 85 men) with a mean age of 70 [standard deviation (SD) 4] years.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main outcome measure

Results for the 10-m walk test (10 MWT) were used to establish reference values.

Results

The mean reference value for maximum walking speed over 10 m for all participants was 1.94 (SD 0.31) m/second. Reference values for women aged 60 to 69 years and 70 to 79 years were 1.96 (SD 0.26) and 1.81 (SD 0.29) m/second, respectively. Reference values for men aged 60 to 69 years and 70 to 79 years were 2.10 (SD 0.35) and 2.01 (SD 0.30) m/second, respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed in the age and gender categories. Men were found to walk faster than women, and individuals aged 60 to 69 years walked faster than individuals aged 70 to 79 years.

Conclusions

This study established the reference values for maximum walking speed over 10 m among independent community-dwelling Danish adults aged 60 to 79 years. The study results showed significant differences in maximum walking speed for different ages and between men and women.

Citation

Reference values of maximum walking speed among independent community-dwelling Danish adults aged 60 to 79 years: a cross-sectional study.