What we know about usual gait speed (UGS):
– defined as time needed to walk a specified distance at “normal” pace.
– identified as a strong predictor of poorer health outcomes, cognitive decline, mortality, the risk of falls and early institutionalization.
– significantly declines with age in both men and women.
– median (“normal”) values:
• men: 1.0 8 -1.38 meter/second (mis).
• women: 0.92 -1.41 m/s.
• an increase in cadence of 20 steps/minute (such as from 100 to 120 steps/min) is associated with a decrease in lower extremity load.
