Gait speed assessed by a 4-m walk test is not representative of daily-life gait speed in community-dwelling adults

Abstract

Objectives: Standardized tests of gait speed are regarded as being of clinical value, but they are typically performed under optimal conditions, and may not reflect daily-life gait behavior. The aim of this study was to compare 4-m gait speed to the distribution of daily-life gait speed. Study design: The cross-sectional Grey Power cohort included 254 community-dwelling participants aged 18 years or more. Main outcome measures: Pearson's correlations were used to compare gait speed assessed using a timed 4-m walk test at preferred pace, and daily-life gait speed obtained from tri-axial lower-back accelerometer data over seven consecutive days. Results: Participants (median age 66.7 years [IQ..