White Paper: “Walking Speed: the Sixth Vital Sign”

Walking speed is “almost the perfect measure.”1 A reliable, valid,2,3 sensitive4 and specific5 measure, self-selected walking speed (WS), also termed gait velocity, correlates with functional ability,6 and balance confidence.7 It has the potential to predict future health status,8,9 and functional decline10 including hospitalization,11 discharge location,12,13 and mortality.14 Walking speed reflects both functional and physiological changes,6 is a discriminating factor in determining potential for rehabilitation,15 and aids in prediction of falls16 and fear of falling.17 Furthermore, progression of WS has been linked to clinical meaningful changes in quality of life18 and in home and community walking…