Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Using a Real-Time Locating System to Measure Walking Activity Associated with Wandering Behaviors Among Institutionalized Older Adults
Published on: February 8, 2019
Walking Activity of Older Patients in Rehabilitation: A Prospective Study
1Dr Nancye Peel, Research Fellow, Centre for Research in Geriatric Medicine, Level 2 Building 33, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia, Ph: +61 7 3176 7402, Fax: +61 7 3176 6945,
Objectives:
To quantify, using accelerometry, walking activity of older rehabilitation inpatients and to examine the relationship between walking activity and functional outcomes.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Inpatient geriatric rehabilitation unit.
Participants:
Of 74 consecutive eligible patients, aged 60 years or older and able to walk independently or with assistance, 60 participants (32 males, 28 females) with a mean (SD) length of stay of 37 (26) days completed the study. Intervention Measures: An accelerometer was worn in daytime hours from study recruitment until discharge to monitor daily walking minutes.
Results:
On study entry, patients spent a median (IQR) of 33 (20 to 48) minutes (7%) of the daily monitored eight hour period walking. By discharge, this had increased to 43 (30 to 56) minutes (9%) (p< 0.001). Average daily walking activity over the week prior to discharge correlated with change in gait speed from admission to discharge (p<0.05). Walking activity prior to discharge was significantly different (p<0.05) between the slowest gait speed group (≤0.4 m/s) and the fastest gait speed group (≥0.8 m/s). Those with discharge gait speeds ≥0.8 m/s (associated with ability to be ambulant in the community) had median (IQR) daily walking times at discharge of 51 (33 to 78) minutes.
Conclusion:
Activity monitoring has the potential to assist clinicians and patients set goals around activity levels to achieve better outcomes.
