title: Steps per Day, Daily Peak Stepping Cadence, and Walking Performance in Older Adults.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that the intensity of daily ambulation would relate with functional walking capacity in older adults. Forty-three women (n = 25) and men (n = 18) between the ages of 60-78 years wore an accelerometer for measurement of average daily steps and 30-min peak stepping cadence. A 400-m walk test was used to measure walking speed. No sex difference was found for average daily steps (p = .76), average peak cadence (p = .96), or walking speed (p = .89). Daily steps (women: r = .68, p < .01; men: r = .04) and peak cadence (women: r = .81, p < .01; men: r = -.16) were positively correlated with walking speed in women but not in men. After controlling for daily steps, peak cadence remained significantly associated with walking speed in women (partial r = .61, p < .01). Walking intensity during daily ambulation is independently related to functional walking capacity in older adults, albeit this relation may be more significant for women than men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
authors.forename: Joaquin U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*