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Objective

To determine the degree to which self-selected walking speed (SSWS), maximal walking speed (MWS), and walking speed reserve (WSR) are associated with fall status among community-dwelling older adults.

Design

WS and 1-year falls history data were collected on 217 community-dwelling older adults (median age= 82, range 65–93 years) at a local outpatient PT clinic and local retirement communities and senior centers. WSR was calculated as a difference (WSRdiff= MWS− SSWS) and ratio (WSRratio= MWS/SSWS).

Results

SSWS (P< 0.001), MWS (P< 0.001), and WSRdiff (P< 0.01) were associated with fall status. The cutpoints identified were 0.76 m/s for SSWS (65.4% sensitivity, 70.9% specificity), 1.13 m/s for MWS (76.6% sensitivity, 60.0% specificity), and 0.24 m/s for WSRdiff (56.1% sensitivity, 70.9% specificity). SSWS and MWS better discriminated between fallers and non-fallers (SSWS: AUC …