Associations between functional fitness and walking speed in older adults

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore 1) the overall associations between functional fitness and walking speed in older adults and 2) the key functional fitness parameters affecting older adults' walking speeds. A total of 242 apparently healthy older adults finished a 6-m walking speed test at both usual walking speed (UWS) and maximum walking speed (MWS). Functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test battery. The results revealed significantly moderate correlations of functional fitness with UWS (r = 0.380) and MWS (r = 0.436). Both age (UWS =-0.332, MWS =-0.324) and dynamic balance and agility (UWS = 0.329, MWS = 0.411) were key indicators of both UWS and MWS. In addition, gender (r = 0.090), aerobic endurance (r = 0.326), and lower body flexibility (r = 0.183) were key fitness indicators of MWS in older adults. (c) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Automated summary

The study found moderate correlations between functional fitness and walking speed in older adults. Age and dynamic balance and agility were identified as key indicators affecting walking speed, while gender, aerobic endurance, and lower body flexibility were key fitness indicators affecting maximum walking speed in older adults.