title: Reference values of maximum walking speed among independent community-dwelling Danish adults aged 60 to 79 years: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish reference values for maximum walking speed over 10 m for independent community-dwelling Danish adults, aged 60 to 79 years, and to evaluate the effects of gender and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Danish companies and senior citizens clubs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty-two adults (167 women, 85 men) with a mean age of 70 [standard deviation (SD) 4] years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results for the 10-m walk test (10 MWT) were used to establish reference values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean reference value for maximum walking speed over 10 m for all participants was 1.94 (SD 0.31) m/second. Reference values for women aged 60 to 69 years and 70 to 79 years were 1.96 (SD 0.26) and 1.81 (SD 0.29) m/second, respectively. Reference values for men aged 60 to 69 years and 70 to 79 years were 2.10 (SD 0.35) and 2.01 (SD 0.30) m/second, respectively. Significant differences (P<0.01) were observed in the age and gender categories. Men were found to walk faster than women, and individuals aged 60 to 69 years walked faster than individuals aged 70 to 79 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study established the reference values for maximum walking speed over 10 m among independent community-dwelling Danish adults aged 60 to 79 years. The study results showed significant differences in maximum walking speed for different ages and between men and women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark. Electronic address: sigrid@tibaek.dk.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tibaek
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holmestad-Bechmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bramming
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Friis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012016:Reference Values; D016138:Walking
keywords: 10 MWT; Danish adults; Maximum walking speed; Reference values