@article{ref1,
title="Self-selected and maximal walking speeds provide greater insight into fall status than walking speed reserve among community-dwelling older adults",
journal="American journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2016",
author="Middleton, Addie and Fulk, George D. and Herter, Troy M. and Beets, Michael W. and Donley, Jonathan and Fritz, Stacy L.",
volume="95",
number="7",
pages="475-482",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree to which self-selected walking speed (SSWS), maximal walking speed (MWS), and walking speed reserve (WSR) are associated with fall status among community-dwelling older adults. <br><br>DESIGN: WS and 1-year falls history data were collected on 217 community-dwelling older adults (median age = 82, range 65-93 years) at a local outpatient PT clinic and local retirement communities and senior centers. WSR was calculated as a difference (WSRdiff = MWS - SSWS) and ratio (WSRratio = MWS/SSWS). <br><br>RESULTS: SSWS (P < 0.001), MWS (P < 0.001), and WSRdiff (P < 0.01) were associated with fall status. The cutpoints identified were 0.76 m/s for SSWS (65.4% sensitivity, 70.9% specificity), 1.13 m/s for MWS (76.6% sensitivity, 60.0% specificity), and 0.24 m/s for WSRdiff (56.1% sensitivity, 70.9% specificity). SSWS and MWS better discriminated between fallers and non-fallers (SSWS: AUC = 0.69, MWS: AUC = 0.71) than WSRdiff (AUC = 0.64). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: SSWS and MWS seem to be equally informative measures for assessing fall status in community-dwelling older adults. Older adults with SSWSs less than 0.76 m/s and those with MWSs less than 1.13 m/s may benefit from further fall risk assessment. Combining SSWS and MWS to calculate an individual's WSR does not provide additional insight into fall status in this population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0894-9115",
doi="10.1097/PHM.0000000000000488",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000488"
}