Functional Classification Spaces according to walking speed in self-sufficient Chilean older adults: A complement to the Periodic Physical Examination

Abstract

Introduction Walking speed is related to functionality in daily activities. Preventive Medicine Examination of the Chilean older adults is a vital prevention program for Chilean community-dwelling older adults. However, this evaluation does not include speed in its battery of tests. Objective To evaluate the functional classification spaces for threshold, reference, and categorization values of self-selected and maximum walking speed applied to self-sufficient older adults. Methods Seventy-two self-sufficient older adults participated in this observational, exploratory, and cross-sectional study. Each participant was asked to walk naturally and then at full speed for three minutes. Through a dispersion graph between self-selected walking speed (axis "x") and maximum walking speed (axis "y"), functional classification spaces were constructed according to documented values for i) thresholds of basic functionality, ii) referential for the instrumental spectrum and iii) functional categorization for "household walker" (< 0.4 meters per second, m/s), "limited community ambulator" (0.40 to 0.80 m/s), "community ambulator" (0.81 to 1.3 m/s), and "cross street safely" (> 1.3 m/s). The relative frequency (%) of older adults who meet each established quadrant was determined. Results The threshold was reached by 100% of the participants (basic daily activities). About 80% of the older adults have a functional classification space below the reference limit (instrumental and advanced daily activities). It was also found that 81% of women and 69% of men are "efficient in the community", and 31% of men and 14% of women reach the minimum value for "effec-tive street crossing" (advanced daily activities). Conclusions The exploration of functional classification spaces according to self-selected walking speed and maximum walking speed applied to a group of self-sufficient older adults reveals that this population is at risk of deteriorating instrumental and advanced activities of daily living.