title: [Functional parameters and their association with gait speed in Chilean community-dwelling older adults].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gait speed is a test to measure functional capacity in older adults. Nevertheless, the factors influencing this variable are not well described in South American populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between usual and maximal walking speed and functional parameters among Chilean community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study including 69 older adults was conducted. The usual and maximal gait speeds were associated with body composition (body mass index), upper limbs muscle strength (arm curl-ups), lower limbs muscle strength (30 seconds sit-to-stand test), global function (Barthel index), ankle flexibility (range of motion), dynamic balance (timed Up & Go test) and aerobic capacity (2 minutes walking test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ankle flexibility, lower limbs strength and aerobic capacity influenced the maximal speed (R2 =0.65; p <0.001), while the usual speed was influenced by upper limbs and lower limbs strength and by the aerobic capacity (R2 = 0.51; p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The usual and maximal gait speeds are mostly influenced by the lower limbs muscle strength plus aerobic capacity.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rybertt
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile.
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavados
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*