Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Habitual Walking Speed in Nursing Home Residents: An Observational Study

Justin W L Keogh; Hugh Senior; Elaine Margaret Beller; Timothy Henwood

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2015.06.021

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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Habitual Walking Speed in Nursing Home Residents: An Observational Study

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Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Habitual Walking Speed in Nursing Home Residents: An Observational Study

Justin W L Keogh, Hugh Senior, Elaine Margaret Beller and Timothy Henwood

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol.96, pp.1993-1999

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.06.021

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Abstract

aging

frail elderly

gait

independent living

nursing home

sarcopenia

Objective: The primary aims were to quantify habitual walking speed and estimate the prevalence of low habitual walking speed (< 0.8 m/s and < 0.5 m/s) in nursing home residents. A secondary aim was to gain some insight into whether demographic, health and functional outcomes could predict the nursing home residents' walking speed. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting 11 nursing homes. Participants One hundred and two nursing home residents (37%) consented to participate in this project from a total of 273 eligible, randomly selected residents from 11 nursing homes. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s) The primary outcome was habitual walking speed assessed over a distance of 2.4 m. Secondary outcomes including body composition, muscle strength, balance and physical performance as assessed via the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), historical and current demographic and health measures were all assessed as potential predictors of walking speed. Results Mean walking speed was 0.37±0.26 m/s, meaning that 97% and 75% had walking speeds < 0.8 m/s and < 0.5 m/s, respectively. Multivariable linear regression identified physical activity status prior to 50 years of age and daily sitting time as independent predictors of walking speed (r2 = 0.25, p < 0.05), although this regression only accounted for 25% of the variance in walking speed. Conclusions Almost all participants in this study had below normal walking speed, a known clinical predictor of physical performance. As walking speed is a clinical marker of many age-related adverse outcomes in older age, efforts to increase or at least maintain walking speed in nursing home residents should be considered. Some evidence suggests that progressive resistance training may offset these declines in walking speed.

Details

Title: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Habitual Walking Speed in Nursing Home Residents: An Observational Study
Authors: Justin W L Keogh (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Hugh Senior (Author) - University of Queensland
Elaine Margaret Beller (Author) - Bond University
Timothy Henwood (Author) - Bond University
Publication details: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol.96, pp.1993-1999
Publisher: W.B. Saunders Co.
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.06.021
ISSN: 0003-9993
Copyright note: Copyright © 2015. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450192502621
Output Type: Journal article