Sources
Where the numbers come from
Each line or label on this site has a paper or a guideline behind it. They are listed here with what the site does with each one. A number that is only an estimate says so on its own page.
At a glance
What is on the page, and where it is from
| On the site | Where it is from |
|---|---|
| 0.8 m/s line on the speed log chart, and a 4-metre walk slower than 5 seconds flagged for a clinician to look at | BC Guidelines, Frailty in Older Adults (2017), gait speed sheet. See reference 1. |
| Faster walking, longer survival: about 12% lower mortality for each 0.1 m/s | Studenski et al., JAMA 2011, 34,485 adults 65 and older. See reference 2. |
| 0.05 m/s small change, 0.10 m/s substantial change on the trend labels | Perera et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2006. See reference 3. |
| Two trials, the faster counts, usual pace, on the 4-metre walk | NIA Short Physical Performance Battery protocol. See reference 4. |
| Speed bands (under 0.6, 0.6 to 1.0, 1.0 to 1.2, 1.2 and over) | The gait speed literature as summarised in Fritz and Lusardi (2009). See reference 5. Used as plain labels, not as a diagnosis. |
| An improving speed goes with better survival | Hardy et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 2007. See reference 6. |
| "Near the pace of a person aged N" on the Gait Check | Age-group average comfortable speeds, after Bohannon (1997). A rough guide, not a measured age. See reference 7. |
| Timed Up and Go 12 second screening line | Podsiadlo and Richardson (1991), and the CDC STEADI program. Reference values: Bohannon (2006). See references 8 to 10. |
| 30-second chair stand | CDC STEADI 30-second chair stand test. See reference 10. |
| Exercise to prevent falls, adults 65 and older at increased risk | US Preventive Services Task Force, Grade B. See reference 11. |
References
The papers and guidelines
1. BC Guidelines. Frailty in Older Adults: gait speed (2017)A walk over 5 seconds for 4 metres (under 0.8 m/s) is flagged for further assessment.Gait speed sheet (PDF) ยท Guideline page
2. Studenski S, et al. Gait speed and survival in older adults. JAMA 2011Pooled analysis of nine cohorts. Survival rose steadily with speed, with no single cut-off.PubMed 21205966
3. Perera S, et al. Meaningful change and responsiveness in common physical performance measures in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2006A change of 0.05 m/s is a small meaningful change and 0.10 m/s a substantial one.PubMed 16696738
4. National Institute on Aging. Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)Two usual-pace walks over 4 metres, the faster one scored.SPPB score tool (PDF)
5. Fritz S, Lusardi M. White paper: "walking speed: the sixth vital sign". J Geriatr Phys Ther 2009The case for measuring walking speed at every visit, with the commonly used speed bands.PubMed 20039582
6. Hardy SE, et al. Improvement in usual gait speed predicts better survival in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2007PubMed 17916121
7. Bohannon RW. Comfortable and maximum walking speed of adults aged 20-79 years: reference values and determinants. Age Ageing 1997PubMed 9143432
8. Podsiadlo D, Richardson S. The timed "Up and Go": a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 1991PubMed 1991946
9. Bohannon RW. Reference values for the timed up and go test: a descriptive meta-analysis. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2006PubMed 16914068
10. CDC STEADI: Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and InjuriesThe timed up and go, the 30-second chair stand and the 4-stage balance test, with the 12 second TUG line.cdc.gov/steadi
11. US Preventive Services Task Force. Falls prevention in community-dwelling older adults: interventionsExercise interventions carry a Grade B recommendation for adults 65 and older at increased risk.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
Read this with the numbers
What these numbers are, and are not
Walking speed is a screening signal that tracks risk across large groups. It does not diagnose anything and it cannot predict what will happen to one person. A slower walk is a reason to talk to a clinician, and a faster one is a reason to keep going.
If you are in crisis or it is an emergency, call or text 988 or call 911 before anything on this page.
The phone walk test and the Gait Check give estimates, and each page says which. When a number on a page has no source here, tell us and we will fix the page. Last reviewed 2026-09-30.
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