Words matter: instructions dictate "self-selected" walking speed in young adults.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Variability in gait speed is influenced by age and health status. However, no study has investigated the effects of different instructions on gait speed. RESEARCH QUESTION This study investigated how walking prompts contributed to variability in gait speed. METHODS: Participants walked on a pressurized walkway. Gait speed variability was assessed using multilevel modeling. RESULTS: 61% of the variance in gait speed was due to instruction, while 14% was due to individual differences. SIGNIFICANCE: Reference values for gait speed across a number of prompts will be highly useful for assessing gait performance in young adults. Further, the instruction given produces a large amount of variability in selected walking speed. This finding urges researchers to maintain consistency when delivering walking instructions.