Energy Cost of Slow and Normal Gait Speeds in Low and Normally Functioning Adults

Abstract

Objective Slow walking speed paired with increased energy cost is a strong predictor for mortality and disability in older adults but has yet to be examined in a heterogeneous sample (ie, age, sex, disease status). The aim of this study was to examine energy cost of slow and normal walking speeds among low-and normal-functioning adults. Design Adults aged 20-90 yrs were recruited for this study. Participants completed a 10-m functional walk test at a selfselected normal walking speed and were categorized as low functioning or normal functioning based on expected age-and sex-adjusted average gait speed. Participants completed two successive 3-min walking stages, at slower than normal and normal walking speeds, respectively. Gas exchange was measured and energy cost per meter (milliliter per kilogram per meter) was calculated for both walking speeds. Results Energy cost per meter was higher (P < 0.0001) in the low-functioning group (n = 76; female = 59.21%; mean ± SD age = 61.13 ± 14.68 yrs) during the slower than normal and normal (P < 0.0001) walking speed bouts compared with the normal-functioning group (n = 42; female = 54.76%; mean ± SD age = 51.55 ± 19.51 yrs). Conclusions Low-functioning adults rely on greater energy cost per meter of walking at slower and normal speeds. This has implications for total daily energy expenditure in low-functioning, adult populations.

Frailty is associated with 90-day unplanned readmissions and death in patients with chronic heart failure: A longitudinal study in Northwest China

“…The results of this study showed that frailty increased the risk of unplanned readmission by 1.5-fold in patients with CHF, which is consistent with the findings of Kojima et al [21]. Patients with frailty have unique characteristics of decreased muscle strength, decreased gait speed and increased gait variability [39], which makes patients with CHF with frailty more likely to fall [40] and indirectly increases the risk of unplanned readmission in patients with CHF. In addition, CHF complicated with frailty had multiple chronic diseases and multiple drug use, increasing the possibility of unplanned readmission [41].…”