RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of walkway length (5, 8, or 10 m) on measurements of comfortable and maximum walking speed in healthy older adults. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study at a university-based rehabilitation center, 25 healthy older adults (mean age, 60.3 ± 8.3 yrs) participated in timed walking at both comfortable and maximum speeds with different walkway lengths (5-, 8-, and 10-m walkway distances) measured by a stopwatch. RESULTS: Walkway length did not affect either comfortable walking speed (P = 0.319) or maximum walking speed (P = 0.568). For all walkway lengths, comfortable speed was significantly different from maximum speed (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Different walkway lengths (5, 8, and 10 m) do not affect both comfortable and maximum walking speed and can yield consistent results in measuring gait speed clinically. A 5-m walkway with standardized 2-m acceleration and 2-m deceleration distances is recommended because it occupies less space and imposes less stress on the healthy older adults.
Assuntos
Aceleração , Envelhecimento/fisiologia , Tolerância ao Exercício/fisiologia , Avaliação Geriátrica/métodos , Caminhada/fisiologia , Idoso , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Valores de ReferênciaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of walkway length (5, 8 or 10 m) on measurements of comfortable and maximum walking speed. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation centre. SUBJECTS: Patients (n = 25) with chronic stroke. METHODS: Timed walking with different walkway lengths (5, 8 and 10 m) walkways were recorded using a stop-watch. RESULTS: No significant effect of walkway length was found on either the comfortable or maximum walking speed in subjects with chronic stroke. For all walkway lengths, comfortable speed was significantly different from maximum speed (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is no significant effect of walkway length (5, 8 and 10 m) on either comfortable or maximum walking speed. Different walkway lengths can yield consistent results in measuring gait speed clinically. A 5-m walkway with standardized 2-m acceleration and deceleration distances is recommended as it occupies the least space and imposes less stress on subjects.
