This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.
How fast someone walks is one of the simplest and most useful measures of health in older adults. Gait speed predicts falls, loss of independence, hospital stays and survival so well that some geriatricians call it the “sixth vital sign”. Measuring it takes only a stopwatch and a marked corridor.
How to do the test
- Mark a straight course of 4 meters (13.1 ft), with an extra 1 to 2 meters before and after so the person can speed up and slow down outside the timed zone.
- Ask the person to walk at their usual pace, with their usual walking aid if they use one.
- Start the stopwatch when the first foot crosses the start line and stop it when the first foot crosses the finish line.
- Repeat once and keep the faster time, or the average, depending on the protocol you follow.
Gait speed = distance ÷ time.
Example
Walking 4 meters in 4.5 seconds gives 4 ÷ 4.5 = 0.89 m/s, about 2 mph. At that speed, crossing a 40 ft (12 m) street takes about 14 seconds.
What the result means
| Gait speed | Meaning |
|---|---|
| under 0.4 m/s | walks mostly at home; high risk of dependence |
| 0.4 to 0.8 m/s | limited outdoor walking; risk of falls and frailty |
| 0.8 to 1.0 m/s | walks in the community, with some increased risk |
| 1.0 m/s or more | normal for an older adult |
In the European sarcopenia definition (EWGSOP2), a speed of 0.8 m/s or less together with low muscle strength and mass marks severe sarcopenia. Healthy adults in their sixties usually walk at 1.2 to 1.4 m/s, and many pedestrian crossings are timed for about 1.2 m/s, which is too fast for a large share of people over 80.
Improving it
Gait speed responds to exercise: strength training of the legs, balance work and regular walking can raise it by 0.1 m/s or more, a change linked to better survival. A slow or falling speed is a reason to look for treatable causes such as pain, joint disease, neurological problems, poor vision, medicines that cause drowsiness or malnutrition.
The test is a screening measure. It does not replace a full assessment of mobility and fall risk.