Self-Selected and Maximal Walking Speeds Provide Greater Insight Into Fall Status Than Walking Speed Reserve Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Daily ambulatory activity is associated with health and functional status in older adults; however, assessment requires multiple days of activity monitoring. The objective of this study was to determine the relative capabilities of self-selected walking speed (SSWS), maximal walking speed (MWS), and walking speed reserve (WSR) to provide insight into daily ambulatory activity (steps per day) in community-dwelling older adults. Sixty-seven older adults completed testing and activity monitoring (age 80.39 [6.73] years). SSWS (R2 = .51), MWS (R2 = .35), and WSR calculated as a ratio (R2 = .06) were significant predictors of daily ambulatory activity in unadjusted linear regression. Cutpoints for participants achieving < 8,000 steps/day were identified for SSWS (≤ 0.97 m/s, 44.2% sensitivity, 95.7% specificity, 10.28 +LR, 0.58 −LR) and MWS (≤ 1.39 m/s, 60.5% sensitivity, 78.3% specificity, 2.79 +LR, 0.50 −LR). SSWS may be a feasible proxy for assessing and monitoring daily ambulatory activity in older adults.

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Implementation of a Cost-Effective Physical Therapy Approach (Coach2Move) to Improve Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Mobility Problems: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized, Stepped Wedge Trial

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/pzz183 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 653-661 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ward Heij ◽

Steven Teerenstra ◽

Lieke Sweerts ◽

J Bart Staal ◽

Maria W G Nijhuis-van der Sanden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Stepped Wedge ◽

Cluster Randomized ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Stepped Wedge Trial ◽

Insight Into

Abstract Background Coach2Move is a personalized treatment strategy by physical therapists to elicit physical activity in community-dwelling older adults with mobility problems. Objective The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the implementation of Coach2Move compared with regular care physical therapy in daily clinical practice. Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention A multicenter cluster-randomized stepped wedge trial is being implemented in 16 physical therapist practices (4 clusters of 4 practices in 4 steps) in the Netherlands. The study aims to include 400 older adults (≥70 years) living independently with mobility problems and/or physically inactive lifestyles. The intervention group receives physical therapy conforming to the Coach2Move strategy; the usual care group receives typical physical therapist care. Measurements Measurements are taken at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment. The primary outcomes for effectiveness are the amount of physical activity (LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test). Trial success can be declared if at least 1 parameter improves while another does not deteriorate. Secondary outcomes are level of frailty (Evaluative Frailty Index for Physical Activity), perceived effect (Global Perceived Effect and Patient Specific Complaints questionnaire), quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L), and health care expenditures. Multilevel linear regression analyses are used to compare the outcomes between treatment groups according to an intention-to-treat approach. Alongside the trial, a mixed-methods process evaluation is performed to understand the outcomes, evaluate therapist fidelity to the strategy, and detect barriers and facilitators in implementation. Limitations An important limitation of the study design is the inability to blind treating therapists to study allocation. Discussion The trial provides insight into the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Coach2Move strategy compared with usual care. The process evaluation provides insight into influencing factors related to outcomes and implementation.

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Activity-Monitor Accuracy in Measuring Step Number and Cadence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.16.2.201 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 201-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 150

Author(s):

P. Margaret Grant ◽

Philippa M. Dall ◽

Sarah L. Mitchell ◽

Malcolm H. Granat

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Activity Monitor ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Percentage Error ◽

Criterion Measure ◽

Community Based ◽

Walking Speeds ◽

Exercise Classes ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Step Number

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of theactivPAL physical activity monitor in measuring step number and cadence in older adults. Two pedometers (New-Lifestyles Digi-Walker SW-200 and New-Lifestyles NL-2000) used in clinical practice to count steps were simultaneously evaluated. Observation was the criterion measure. Twenty-one participants (65-87 yr old) recruited from community-based exercise classes walked on a treadmill at 5 speeds (0.67, 0.90, 1.12, 1.33, and 1.56 m/s) and outdoors at 3 self-selected speeds (slow, normal, and fast). The absolute percentage error of theactivPAL was <1% for all treadmill and outdoor conditions for measuring steps and cadence. With the exception of the slowest treadmill speed, the NL-2000 error was <2%. The SW-200 was the least accurate device, particularly at slower walking speeds. TheactivPAL monitor accurately recorded step number and cadence. Combined with its ability to identify primary postures, theactivPALmight be a useful and versatile device for measuring activity in older adults.

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Assessing Coping Strategies and Outdoor Activities Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2233 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 585-586

Author(s):

Martha Coates ◽

Sarah Wetzel ◽

Janvi Patel ◽

Keyanna Bynum ◽

K Linh Pham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Online Classes ◽

Outdoor Activities ◽

Positive Coping ◽

Common Activity ◽

Conventional Content Analysis ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Insight Into

Abstract Information is lacking on how older adults are coping during the pandemic. We explored coping strategies including outdoor activities among community-dwelling older adults (N = 115) 65 and older (mean age 76.45, 71.3% female). Using conventional content analysis, we analyzed responses to: 1) How are you coping with COVID-19? and 2) How often are you going outside during the pandemic and for what reasons? Most common activities are connecting with family and friends (some in person, others on the phone or virtually), reading, tv, game playing, and learning something new (e.g. webinars, online classes). The majority are going outside every day, with walking being the most common activity. Only a few are restricting their out of home activities to essential tasks (e.g. going to the doctors, pharmacy, getting groceries). Findings suggest that many older adults are engaging in positive coping activities. Assessing coping strategies can give insight into wellbeing.

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Motor-Cognitive Neural Network Communication Underlies Walking Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2019.00159 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Victoria N. Poole ◽

On-Yee Lo ◽

Thomas Wooten ◽

Ikechukwu Iloputaife ◽

Lewis A. Lipsitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Older Adults ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Network Communication ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Predictors of Future Walking Speed: A 12-Month Monitoring Program

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/00914150211066566 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 009141502110665

Author(s):

Ayelet Dunsky ◽

Aviva Zeev ◽

Yael Netz

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Reaction Time ◽

Older Adult ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Adult Women ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Adult Men ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

The purpose of the current study was to identify significant predictors of walking speed (WS) among community-dwelling older adults, as it is one of the most representative measures of functioning in their daily lives. Seventy-seven (24 adult men, 26 adult women, and 27 older-adult women) community-dwelling older adults (73.7 ± 4.9 years) performed two assessments, over a 12-month period. Several physical, cognitive, and psychological tests were performed, as well as assessing the preferred WS. Multiple linear regression, stratified by gender, was used to identify significant predictors of future WS. For the adult men, walking and functional performances at the first assessment predicted 71.9%; for adult women, reaction time, walking, and balance performance predicted 64.4%; and, for the older-adult women, fast walking and reaction time predicted 48.2% of the variance of future WS. Clinicians should consider including different exercises for each group of older adults to evaluate and preserve functional abilities.

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The significance of walking speed in physical function among a group of community dwelling older adults

10.32469/10355/6049 ◽

2008 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jie Yu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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MULTI-SCALE DYNAMICS OF SPONTANOUS BRAIN ACTIVITY CORRELATE WITH WALKING SPEED IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igy023.1348 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. 365-365

Author(s):

J Zhou ◽

V Poole ◽

T Wooten ◽

O Lo ◽

I Iloputaife ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Multi Scale ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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MAXIMUM WALKING SPEED CAN IMPROVE THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF FRAILTY AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Journal of Frailty & Aging ◽

10.14283/jfa.2018.44 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

M. do Carmo Correia de Lima ◽

T. Loffredo Bilton ◽

W. Jefferson de Sousa Soares ◽

L. Paccini Lustosa ◽

E. Ferriolli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Walking Speed ◽

High Specificity ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Population Based ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Likelihood Ratios ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the combination of usual walking speed (UWS) and maximum walking speed (MWS) to identify frailty in community-dwelling older adults. A population-based study with 758 participants aged 65 and older was conducted. Frailty syndrome was determined using the Fried phenotype. UWS and MWS were evaluated in a 4.6-meter path. Both measures were categorized using the 1.0 m/s cut points, and participants were categorized into three groups: those with “very good”, “good” and “insufficient” walking reserve capacity (WRC). Of all participants, 9% were identified as frail and 47% as prefrail. The “insufficient” WRC presented a low sensitivity of 0.55, high specificity of 0.91 and moderately useful likelihood ratios (LR+ 6.57, LR- 0.48) to identify frailty. Based on Fagan’s nomogram, an elder’s corresponding post-test probability of being frail with an “insufficient” WRC would be around 40%, which substantially increased the diagnostic accuracy of frailty.

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