Walking Speed as Functional Vital Sign

A person's walking speed can provide insights into a person's functional status.

The timed test can be done over a straight path from 5 to 10 meters long.

walking speed =

= (distance in meters) / (number of seconds to complete)

Walking Speed	Clinical Status
> 1.3 m/s	fit
1.0 to 1.3 m/s	able to do most household activities and independent in ADL
0.8 to 1.0 m/s	able to do some household activities; independent in most ADL
0.6 to 0.8 m/s	limited ambulation, at risk for falls and cognitive decline
0.4 to 0.6 m/s	some functional impairment
0.2 to 0.4 m/s	significant functional impairment
< 0.2	extreme frailty

approximated from Figure 1

Some include an acceleration phase to detect maximum walking speed.

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