Miriam Urquiza, Naiara Fernández, Ismene Arrinda, Ander Espin, Julia García-García, Ana Rodriguez-Larrad, Jon Irazusta
{"title":"Predictors of Hospital Readmission, Institutionalization, and Mortality in Geriatric Rehabilitation Following Hospitalization According to Admission Reason.","authors":"Miriam Urquiza, Naiara Fernández, Ismene Arrinda, Ander Espin, Julia García-García, Ana Rodriguez-Larrad, Jon Irazusta","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000414","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000414","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Older adults following an inpatient geriatric rehabilitation (GR) program commonly experience adverse health outcomes such as hospital readmission, institutionalization, and mortality. Although several studies have explored factors related to these outcomes, the influence of admission reason on the predictive factors of adverse health outcomes in the rehabilitation process remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify predictive factors for adverse health outcomes in inpatients attending GR according to their admission reason.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included patients with orthogeriatric (OG) conditions and patients with hospital-associated deconditioning (HAD) admitted to GR after an acute hospitalization between 2016 and 2020. Patients were evaluated by a comprehensive geriatric assessment at admission, including sociodemographic data, social resources, clinical data, cognitive, functional and nutritional status, and physical performance measurements. Adverse health outcomes were collected (hospital readmission, institutionalization, and mortality). Univariate analyses and multivariate backward binary logistic regressions were used to determine predictive factors.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>In this study, 290 patients were admitted for OG conditions, and 122 patients were admitted due to HAD. In patients with OG conditions, lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) predicted institutionalization and mortality. Lower Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form predicted institutionalization, whereas lower Barthel Index and lower Tinetti-Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment scores were associated with higher mortality. In patients with HAD, higher age-adjusted comorbidity index predicted hospital readmission and mortality, and lower Short Physical Performance Battery scores predicted institutionalization and mortality. Finally, lower MMSE scores, worse values in Older Americans Resources and Services Scale and male gender were associated with a higher risk of institutionalization.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Predictive factors for hospital readmission, institutionalization, and mortality in patients with OG conditions and HAD during GR were different. Some of those predictors, such as nutritional status and physical performance, are modifiable. Understanding predictive factors for adverse outcomes, and how these factors differ by admission diagnosis, improves our ability to identify patients most at risk. Early identification of these patients could assist with prevention efforts and lead to a reduction of negative outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"5-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel Ranson, Garrett W Esper, Nicole Covell, Nicket Dedhia, Abhishek Ganta, Kenneth A Egol, Sanjit R Konda
{"title":"Age Is Not Just a Number: The Intersection of Age, Orthopedic Injuries, and Worsening Outcomes Following Low-Energy Falls.","authors":"Rachel Ranson, Garrett W Esper, Nicole Covell, Nicket Dedhia, Abhishek Ganta, Kenneth A Egol, Sanjit R Konda","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000395","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000395","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The purpose of this study is to stratify the age at which older adults are most likely to sustain injuries and major complications resulting from low-energy falls so that fall prevention strategies may be targeted to more susceptible age groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A consecutive series of 12 709 patients older than 55 years enrolled in an orthopedic trauma registry from October 2014 to April 2021 were reviewed for demographic factors, hospital quality measures, and outcomes. Patients were grouped by age brackets in 5-year intervals. Comparative analyses were conducted across age groups with an additional post hoc analysis comparing the 75- to 79-year-old cohort with others. All statistical analyses were conducted utilizing a Bonferroni-adjusted alpha.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 12 709 patients, 9924 patients (78%) sustained a low-energy fall. The mean age of the cohort was 75.3 (range: 55-106) years and the median number of complications per person was 1.0 (range: 0-7). The proportion of females increased across each age group. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index increased across each age group, except in the cohort of 90+ years of age. There was a varied distribution of fractures among age groups with the incidence of hip fractures most prominently increasing with age. Complication rates varied significantly between all age groups. Between the ages of 70 to 74 years and 80 to 84 years, there was a 2-fold increase in complication rate, and between the ages of 70 to 74 years and 75 to 79 years, there was a near 2×/1.5×/1.4× increase in inpatient, 30-day, and 1-year mortality rate, respectively. When controlling for confounding demographic variables between age groups, the rates of complications and mortality still differed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Fall prevention interventions, while applicable to all older adult patients, could improve outcomes by offering additional resources particularly for individuals between 70 and 80 years of age. These additional resources can help minimize excessive hospitalizations, prolonged lengths of stay, and the detrimental complications that frequently coincide with falls. Although hip fractures are the most common fracture as patients get older, other fractures still occur with frequency, and fall prevention strategies should account for prevention of these injuries as well.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"24-31"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10591223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vishal Vennu, Saad M Alsaad, Aqeel M Alenazi, Saad M Bindawas
{"title":"Association Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Frailty Over Time in Older Adults.","authors":"Vishal Vennu, Saad M Alsaad, Aqeel M Alenazi, Saad M Bindawas","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000411","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>There is a high frequency of frailty in patients with musculoskeletal pain. Pain from osteoarthritis and lower back pain may be associated with frailty. However, the future risk of frailty among older adults with pain remains unclear. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to examine the association between musculoskeletal pain and the risk of becoming prefrail and frail in older adults.</p><p><strong>Participants and methods: </strong>A secondary analysis was performed using data from baseline and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, and 8-year follow-ups of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). The OAI recruited participants from 4 clinical sites in the United States, between February 2004 and May 2006. A self-reported questionnaire was used to determine the baseline musculoskeletal pain status in older adults (n = 1780) 65 years and older, including pain in the lower back, hip, knee, and at 2 or more sites. Using the Fried phenotypic criteria, participants were classified as nonfrail, prefrail, and frail at each period over 8 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for age, sex, race, education, marital status, annual income, smoking status, comorbidities, and body mass index, binary logistic regression modeling using generalized estimating equations revealed that in older adults musculoskeletal pain in the lower back and at multiple sites was associated with a slightly but significantly decreased risk of prefrailty over time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.95-0.99, P = .019; AOR = 0.96, CI = 0.92-0.99, P = .032). The association between musculoskeletal pain and frailty among older adults was not statistically significant (all P > .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Musculoskeletal pain did not independently significantly increase the risk of prefrailty or frailty over time. It remains possible that when musculoskeletal is combined with other factors, the risk of prefrailty and frailty may be heightened. Further research into the combination of characteristics that best predict prefrailty and frailty, including but not limited to musculoskeletal pain, is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"33-41"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140013474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editor's Message: Pay to Publish, or Perish?: Efforts to Facilitate Reader Access Through Open Access Have Shifted the Cost to Authors.","authors":"","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000448","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000448","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":"48 1","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sahar Johari, Joy MacDermid, Pulak Parikh, Ruby Grewal
{"title":"A Scoping Review of Interventions Aimed at Reducing Fear of Falling in Older Adults With Orthopedic Conditions.","authors":"Sahar Johari, Joy MacDermid, Pulak Parikh, Ruby Grewal","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000426","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000426","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Fear of falling (FoF) is a persistent anxiety regarding the risk of falling, which can even impact individuals without a history of falls. Fear of falling has been associated with decreased physical functioning and increased risk of falls. Most interventions have focused on reducing FoF in healthy older adults. This study aimed to review the literature's scope, nature, and content related to FoF interventions in older adults with orthopedic conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping literature review was conducted. The method steps included identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, selecting the studies, charting the data, and synthesizing, summarizing, and reporting the results. Cochrane Library, Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were searched. The search strategy used a set of key concepts, including \"Fear of Falling,\" \"Orthopedic conditions,\" \"Interventions,\" and \"Older adults.\"</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Out of the 33 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 21 were randomized control trials (RCTs), 5 were RCT protocols, 3 were quasi-experimental studies, 2 employed pre-post designs, 1 was a prospective cohort study, and 1 was an experimental study. The review revealed 7 distinct categories of interventions: exercise training, cognitive behavioral therapy, enhanced occupational or physical therapy (OT or PT), motivational interviews, interdisciplinary interventions, education, and mind-body intervention. The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) was the most frequently used outcome measure for assessing FoF. Other measures were the Fear of Falling Questionnaire (FoFQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Perceived Ability to Manage Fall (PAMF). The studies varied in their reasoning, content, and how they reported findings, posing challenges for healthcare professionals in choosing and applying FoF intervention programs specific to various orthopedic conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review highlighted the need for adopting more comprehensive approaches for assessing and addressing FoF in older adults with orthopedic conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":"48 1","pages":"42-51"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142878623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katherine A Colcord, Paola Gilsanz, Kristen M George, Claudia H Kawas, Luohua Jiang, Rachel A Whitmer, María M Corrada
{"title":"The Importance of Racially and Ethnically Inclusive Gait Speed Reference Values in Individuals 90 Years and Older: LifeAfter90.","authors":"Katherine A Colcord, Paola Gilsanz, Kristen M George, Claudia H Kawas, Luohua Jiang, Rachel A Whitmer, María M Corrada","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000416","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Clinicians use reference values to contextualize physical performance scores, but data are sparse in individuals 90 years and older and racial/ethnic diversity is limited in existing studies. Gait speed provides valuable information about an individual's health status. Slow gait speed is associated with falls, cognitive decline, and mortality. Here, we report gait speed reference values in a racially/ethnically diverse oldest-old cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>LifeAfter90 is a multiethnic cohort study of individuals 90 years and older. Participants are long-term members of an integrated healthcare delivery system without a dementia diagnosis at enrollment. We assessed gait speed using the 4-m walk test and calculated means, standard deviations, and percentiles by age, sex, assistive device use, and device type. We used linear regression to compare means by sex, age, device use and type, living situation and arrangement, and race/ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>The mean age of the 502 participants was 92.9 (range 90.1-102.8) years. Of these, 62.6% were women, 34.7% were college educated, 90.8% lived in a private residence, 20.9% self-reported as Asian, 22.5% as Black, 11.8% as Hispanic, 35.7% as White, and 9.2% as multiple, \"other,\" or declined to state. The overall mean gait speed was 0.54 m/s (women = 0.51 m/s, men = 0.58 m/s). Mean gait speeds were 0.58 m/s, 0.53 m/s, and 0.48 m/s in the 90 to 91, 92 to 93, and 94+ age categories, respectively. In those without a device, mean gait speed was 0.63 m/s compared to 0.40 m/s in those with a device (cane = 0.44 m/s, walker = 0.37 m/s). Mean gait speed was significantly slower in women compared to men, age category 94+ compared to 90 to 91, participants with a device compared to those without, participants with a walker compared to a cane, and Black participants compared to Asian and White participants. However, differences by race/ethnicity were attenuated when chronic health conditions were considered.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Reference values developed from this multiethnic 90+ cohort will help clinicians interpret gait speed measures and tailor recommendations toward a 90+ population that is growing in number and in racial/ethnic diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"202-213"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11975436/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142005619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deb Kegelmeyer, Raquel Minarsch, Katherine Marita, Audrey Hoffmeister, Gabrielle Schnaterbeck, Timothy Wohl, Yevgeniya Gokun, Anne Kloos
{"title":"Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs (STEPS): Assessing Stair Function in Older Adults.","authors":"Deb Kegelmeyer, Raquel Minarsch, Katherine Marita, Audrey Hoffmeister, Gabrielle Schnaterbeck, Timothy Wohl, Yevgeniya Gokun, Anne Kloos","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000415","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Stair negotiation is crucial for functional independence and is a leading cause of fall-related injuries in older adults. The Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs (STEPS) is a quick and easily administered outcome measure for assessing stair negotiation. This study investigated the reliability and concurrent content validity of the STEPS test to determine its usefulness in older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty-two community-dwelling older adults (mean age 81.2 years, 51 females) were assessed on the STEPS test, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 5-times sit to stand (5XSTS), stair self-efficacy (SSE) questionnaire, and time to ascend and descend stairs. Participants repeated the STEPS test 7 to 14 days later for intrarater reliability by the same rater. Spearman rank and intraclass correlations were used to determine the association of measures and intrarater reliability.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>The mean STEPS score was 15.6 (SD = 3.7) out of 20. The STEPS total score demonstrated excellent intra- and interrater reliability. It had moderate to good and significant correlations with TUG, 5XSTS, SSE, and time to ascend and descend measures. Faster performance on the 5XSTS, TUG, and time to ascend and descend correlated with better performance on the STEPS test, indicating validity for assessing balance and mobility during stair negotiation in older adults. Lower SSE correlated with lower observer ratings of performance on stairs (STEPS scores), indicating agreement between participant reports of self-efficacy and observer ratings of performance. Step Test Evaluation of Performance on Stairs items that demonstrated the most frequent loss of points were balance (use of handrail), step continuity, foot placement, and self-propulsion (ascent only).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Assessment of older adults' safety and performance on stairs is vital given the increased difficulty of stair navigation and the high risk for injurious falls in this population. This study demonstrates that the STEPS test is a reliable and valid outcome measure for assessing stair performance in older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"214-221"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140923338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cynthia J Watson, Matthew J de Ruig, Kent T Saunders
{"title":"Intrarater and Interrater Reliability of Quantitative Ultrasound Speed of Sound by Trained Raters at the Distal Radius in Postmenopausal Women.","authors":"Cynthia J Watson, Matthew J de Ruig, Kent T Saunders","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000417","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000417","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) performed at the distal radius shows potential as an effective tool for evaluating fracture risk, especially in postmenopausal women, but the reliability of this tool has not been reported in this patient population. This study investigated the within-day intrarater and interrater reliability of trained raters performing QUS measures at the distal radius of postmenopausal community-dwelling women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighteen women between the ages of 56 and 87 years were recruited from senior centers in the Greenville area of South Carolina and consented to participate. A QUS bone sonometer was used in this study; the trained raters performed 3 repeated speed of sound (SOS) measures at the nondominant radius of each participant on the same day. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated (model 3,1 for intrarater and 2,3 for interrater reliability) to determine the reliability within and between raters. In addition, we calculated the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change at 95% confidence interval (MDC 95 ).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The within-day intrarater reliability was excellent for both physical therapist raters (ICC (3,1) ranging from 0.93 to 0.91). The SEM and MDC for the within-day intrarater reliability measures were small for both raters (SEM = 36.79-38.75 or 0.92%-0.97% of the pooled mean; MDC 95 = 101.99-107.40). The interrater reliability for SOS measurements using radial QUS was good with an ICC (2,3) of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.36-0.92) for 3 averaged measures. The SEM and MDC were larger for the interrater reliability measures (SEM = 62.79 or 1.57% of the pooled mean; MDC 95 = 174.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Quantitative ultrasound SOS measurement at the distal radius showed excellent within-day intrarater and good interrater (when 3 measures were averaged) reliability in community-dwelling postmenopausal women. The SEM and MDC 95 were also low for interrater reliability when a mean of 3 trials was used. This study is the first to demonstrate that this particular QUS device at the radius may be a reliable fracture risk screening tool for postmenopausal women.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"E159-E166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Associations of Usual and Fast Gait Speed With Physical Performance and Balance Confidence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Implications for Assessment.","authors":"Chad Tiernan, David J Schwarz, Allon Goldberg","doi":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000397","DOIUrl":"10.1519/JPT.0000000000000397","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Gait speed is a robust measure that offers many advantages clinically. However, decisions concerning its utilization exist, including whether to assess usual or fast gait speed. The current study aimed to identify whether usual or fast gait speed was more strongly associated with physical performance measures and balance confidence. A secondary aim was to explore these relationships within subgroups based on fall risk status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design involving 57 community-dwelling older adults (77.2% female; mean age = 68.8, SD = 6.5 years, range = 60-87 years) who were assessed on the following variables: usual and fast gait speed, knee extension strength, step execution time, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC-6). Spearman ρ correlations were computed to determine bivariate associations of usual and fast gait speed with physical performance measures and balance confidence for the whole sample and within subgroups based on fall risk [lower fall risk (n = 28) vs higher fall risk (n = 29)]. Multiple linear regression models were estimated with either usual or fast gait speed as key predictors of knee extension strength, step execution time, 6MWT, and ABC-6.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Stronger correlations were observed for fast gait speed compared with usual gait speed with all physical performance measures and balance confidence for the entire sample and within the higher fall risk group. Multiple regression results indicated that models with fast rather than usual gait speed as the key predictor explained more of the variance in 6MWT ( R2 = 64.5% vs 45.6%), ABC-6 ( R2 = 28.5% vs 25.4%), step execution time ( R2 = 24.9% vs 19.0%), and knee extension strength ( R2 = 15.7% vs 7.2%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Fast gait speed showed stronger associations and better predictive capabilities compared with usual gait speed with physical performance measures and balance confidence in older adults. Despite being measured less often than usual gait speed, fast gait speed assessment warrants additional consideration.</p>","PeriodicalId":49035,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"192-201"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41217199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}