title: Gait speed measure: the effect of different measuring distances and the inclusion and exclusion of acceleration and deceleration.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of different distances and the inclusion and exclusion of acceleration and deceleration distances on the measurement of self-paced and fastest gait speeds in younger and older adults. The self-paced and fastest gait speeds of younger and older adults were measured over 4-m and 10-m walkways with the acceleration and deceleration distances included and excluded in the measuring distance. The results indicated gait speeds (both self-paced and fastest) measured over different distances were comparable only if a distance for acceleration and deceleration was excluded from the measuring distance to obtain stable and comparable gait speeds. Similar results were found for younger and older groups.
authors: School of Physical Therapy, Center for Education and Research on Geriatrics and Gerontology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan. cywang@csmu.edu.tw
authors: Ching-Yi
authors: CY
authors: Wang
authors: Tou-Rong
authors: TR
authors: Chen
authors: Yi-Huang
authors: YH
authors: Lin
authors: Mei-Hui
authors: MH
authors: Liu
authors: Yueh-Chi
authors: YC
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003654:Deceleration; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult