4.5 Article

Words matter: instructions dictate self-selected walking speed in young adults

Journal

GAIT & POSTURE
Volume 95, Issue -, Pages 223-226

Publisher

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.07.379

Keywords

Gait speed; Walking; Gait speed variability; Walking instructions

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This study investigated the effects of different instructions on gait speed variability and found that instructions have a significant impact on variability. This finding highlights the importance of consistency when delivering walking instructions.
Background: Variability in gait speed is influenced by age and health status. However, no study has investigated the effects of different instructions on gait speed. Research question: This study investigated how walking prompts contributed to variability in gait speed. Methods: Participants walked on a pressurized walkway. Gait speed variability was assessed using multilevel modeling. Results: 61% of the variance in gait speed was due to instruction, while 14% was due to individual differences. Significance: Reference values for gait speed across a number of prompts will be highly useful for assessing gait performance in young adults. Further, the instruction given produces a large amount of variability in selected walking speed. This finding urges researchers to maintain consistency when delivering walking instructions.

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