title: Walking speed: the functional vital sign.
abstract: Walking speed (WS) is a valid, reliable, and sensitive measure appropriate for assessing and monitoring functional status and overall health in a wide range of populations. These capabilities have led to its designation as the "sixth vital sign". By synthesizing the available evidence on WS, this scholarly review article provides clinicians with a reference tool regarding this robust measure. Recommendations on testing procedures for assessing WS, including optimal distance, inclusion of acceleration and deceleration phases, instructions, and instrumentation are given. After assessing an individual's WS, clinicians need to know what this value represents. Therefore, WS cut-off values and the corresponding predicted outcomes, as well as minimal detectable change values for specific populations and settings are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Physical Therapy Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: Addie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lusardi
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055986:Vital Signs; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*