Effects of starting position, distance and ending point in a walking speed test among older adults

This study examined the effects of the starting position, distance and ending point on walking speed in older adults with both the usual and maximum walking speeds.

In total, 101 older community-dwellers aged between 60 and 74 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were instructed to walk two distances (i.e., 10 and 25 m) at usual and maximum speeds twice. The paired t-test was used to examine the effects of starting positions (static start vs. dynamic start) and ending points (known vs. unknown ending point) on walking speed. Analysis of variance was used to explore walking speed differences among 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m walking tests.

Differences in walking speed between static start and dynamic start became larger with a decrease in the walking distance (Cohen's d: 4 m > 6 m > 10 m), and differences were larger in tests at the maximum walking speed (Cohen's d = 0.28-0.85) compared with those at usual walking speed (Cohen's d = 0.21-0.67). The walking speed increased with distance, but no significant changes were found among 10, 15, 20 and 25 m tests at the usual speed. Trivial speed differences were observed in walking speed between known (mean = 1.23-1.82 m/s) and unknown ending points (mean = 1.27-1.86 m/s; Cohen's d < 0.20).

Test parameters, particularly the starting position and walk distance, do influence walking speed measured in the short-distance walking speed test among older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.