Gait velocity (walking speed) is an indicator of spine health and objective measure of pre and post intervention recovery for spine care providers

摘要

Walking is a fundamental part of living dependent on the function and interaction of the visual, mechanical and neurological health of the individual ( ). Its importance is not limited by age, race or medical status. Reduced walking speed, or gait velocity (GV) is a sign of advancing age, poor response to rehabilitation, age-related diseases, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and early mortality ( ). A deterioration in how we walk, including reduced GV, is associated with poor health outcomes, including spinal health ( ). GV is of such importance that it has been dubbed “the 6 vital sign” ( ).