Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Factors associated with impairment in gait speed in older people with clinically normal gait. A cross-sectional study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Health professionals commonly use gait speed in the evaluation of functional status in older people. However, only a limited number of studies have assessed gait speed in the absence of disorders of gait, using confounding factors and exclusion criteria coming from studies conducted in younger people. Our study aims to analyse which factors are associated with gait speed in older people with normal clinical gait.

Methods

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 119 community-dwelling residents without relevant comorbidities (Charlson index < 2), preserved function (Barthel > 85) and normal gait by visual exploration. Exclusion criteria included suffering from any illness that could modify the characteristics of gait, terminal status or the presence of an acute medical illness in the past 3 months. We used a stepwise linear regression of several variables (sociodemographic characteristics, cognition, body composition, drugs, falls, sarcopenia, frailty and physical activity) on 6-metre gait speed.

Results

The mean age was 78 years (range 70–96 years) and 71.4% were women. Variables that remained associated with gait speed in the multivariate final model were age (B = − 0.020, p < 0.001); gender (B = − 0.184, p < 0.001); waist-to-height ratio (B = − 0.834, p = 0.002); number of falls (B = − 0.049, p = 0.003) and the number of Fried’s frailty criteria (B = − 0.064, p = 0.019).

Conclusion

Falls, frailty and the waist-to-height ratio modify gait speed in older people with normal gait. Studies analysing the potential effect of several factors on gait speed should consider them as confounding factors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Freiberger E, de Vreede P, Schoene D et al (2012) Performance-based physical function in older community-dwelling persons: a systematic review of instruments. Age Ageing. 41:712–721. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afs099

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Chisholm AE, Makepeace S, Inness EL et al (2014) Spatial-temporal gait variability poststroke: variations in measurement and implications for measuring change. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 95:1335–1341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2014.02.014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ornetti P, Maillefert JF, Laroche D et al (2010) Gait analysis as a quantifiable outcome measure in hip or knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Jt Bone Spine. 77:421–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2009.12.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Van Abbema R, De Greef M, Crajé C et al (2015) What type, or combination of exercise can improve preferred gait speed in older adults? A meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr 15:72. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-015-0061-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Abellan van KG, Rolland Y, Andrieu S et al (2009) Gait speed at usual pace as a predictor of adverse outcomes in community-dwelling older people an International Academy on Nutrition and Aging (IANA) Task Force. J Nutr Health Aging 13:881–889

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Frimenko R, Goodyear C, Bruening D (2015) Interactions of sex and aging on spatiotemporal metrics in non-pathological gait: a descriptive meta-analysis. Physiotherapy 101:266–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2015.01.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cesari M, Kritchevsky SB, Penninx BWHJ et al (2005) Prognostic value of usual gait speed in well-functioning older people—results from the health, aging and body composition study. J Am Geriatr Soc 53:1675–1680

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hollman JH, Mcdade EM, Petersen RC (2011) Normative Spatiotemporal gait parameters in older adults. Gait Posture. 34:111–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.03.024

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Oberg T, Karsznia A, Oberg K (1993) Basic gait parameters: reference data for normal subjects, 10–79 years of age. J Rehabil Res Dev 30:210–223

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Oh-Park M, Holtzer R, Xue X et al (2010) Conventional and robust quantitative gait norms in community-dwelling older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 58:1512–1518

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Samson MM, Crowe A, de Vreede PL et al (2001) Differences in gait parameters at a preferred walking speed in healthy subjects due to age, height and body weight. Aging Clin Exp Res 13:16–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Austin PC, Steyerberg EW (2015) The number of subjects per variable required in linear regression analyses. J Clin Epidemiol 68:627–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.12.014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Arnold CM, Warkentin KD, Chilibeck PD et al (2010) The reliability and validity of handheld dynamometry for the measurement of lower-extremity muscle strength in older adults. J Strength Cond Res 24:815–824. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181aa36b8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Studenski S, Peters K, Alley D et al (2014) The FNIH sarcopenia project: Rationale, study description, conference recommendations, and final estimates. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 69:547–558. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu010

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Lobo A, Ezquerra J, Gómez Burgada F et al (1979) Cognocitive mini-test (a simple practical test to detect intellectual changes in medical patients). Actas Luso Esp Neurol Psiquiatr Cienc Afines 7:189–202

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fried LP, Tangen CM, Walston J et al (2001) Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 56:M146–M156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Alonso Bouzón C, Carnicero JA, Turín JG et al (2017) The standardization of frailty phenotype criteria improves its predictive ability: the Toledo study for healthy aging. J Am Med Dir Assoc 18:402–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2016.11.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Seppala LJ, van de Glind EMM, Daams JG et al (2018) Fall-risk-increasing drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis: III Others. J Am Med Dir Assoc 19:372.e1–372.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.12.099

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System with Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD) (2003) ATC Index with DDDs 2003. Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment 2003. https://www.whocc.no/filearchive/publications/1_2013guidelines.pdf. Accessed Jan 2013

  20. Mahoney FI, Barthel DW (1965) Functional evaluation: Barthel index. Md State Med J 14:61–65

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lawton MP, Brody EM (1969) Assessment of older people: self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist 9:179–186

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Charlson M, Pompei P, Ales KL et al (1987) A new method of classyfing prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: development and validation. J Chron Dis 40:373–383

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Doménech JM (2001) Análisis multivariante: modelos de regresión. UD 5. Construcción de un modelo de regresión múltiple con fines predictivos. Selección de la mejor ecuación. Signo, Barcelona

  24. Ashwell M, Gunn P, Gibson S (2012) Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 13:275–286. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00952.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Collard RM, Boter H, Schoevers RA et al (2012) Prevalence of frailty in community-dwelling older persons: a systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc 60:1487–1492. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04054.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. World Health Organization (2007) WHO global report on falls prevention in older age. https://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Falls_prevention7March.pdf

  27. Ayoubi F, Launay CP, Kabeshova A et al (2014) The influence of fear of falling on gait variability: results from a large elderly population-based cross-sectional study. J Neuroeng Rehabil 11:128. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-11-128

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Yang F, Chen QW (2018) Evaluation of frailty and influencing factors in old people in hospital institution: Evidence for a phenotype of frailty. Med (Baltimore) 97:e9634. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000009634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Buch A, Carmeli E, Boker LK et al (2016) Muscle function and fat content in relation to sarcopenia, obesity and frailty of old age—an overview. Exp Gerontol 76:25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2016.01.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kahlaee HR, Latt MD, Schneider CR (2018) Association between chronic or acute use of antihypertensive class of medications and falls in older adults. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Hypertens 31:467–479. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpx189

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Funding was provided by ISCIII PI11/01068, and CIBERFES CB16/10/00464 and co-funding was by Feder.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Geriatría, Geriatric Department, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Ctra de Toledo Km 12.5, 28905, Getafe, Spain

    M. A. Caballero-Mora, M. Valdés-Aragonés, C. Alonso-Bouzon, M. Castro Rodríguez & L. Nuñez-Jimenez

  2. Fundación de Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Spain

    M. A. Caballero-Mora, L. Rodríguez Mañas, M. Valdés-Aragonés, I. García-Sánchez & A. Rodriguez-Laso

  3. CIBER de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable, Madrid, Spain

    M. A. Caballero-Mora & L. Rodríguez Mañas

  4. CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain

    A. Esteban

Authors
  1. M. A. Caballero-Mora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Rodríguez Mañas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Valdés-Aragonés
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. García-Sánchez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. Alonso-Bouzon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Castro Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. L. Nuñez-Jimenez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. A. Esteban
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. A. Rodriguez-Laso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to M. A. Caballero-Mora or A. Rodriguez-Laso.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Caballero-Mora, M.A., Rodríguez Mañas, L., Valdés-Aragonés, M. et al. Factors associated with impairment in gait speed in older people with clinically normal gait. A cross-sectional study. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 1043–1048 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01187-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01187-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation