Characteristics of older cyclists with self-perceived needs for improvement in cycling competence: SiFAr trial.

Background: Older cyclists are in great risk of being injured or killed in a traffic-related accident and their needs should find more consideration in safety guidelines, urban planning, and future intervention programs.

Objective: The aim for this cross-sectional analysis was to comprehensively explore characteristics of community-dwelling cyclists aged 65 years and older with a self-perceived need to increase cycle competence.

Methods: 118 older adults (mean age 73.

Safer cycling in older age (SiFAr): effects of a multi-component cycle training. a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The risk of older adults being injured or killed in a bicycle accident increases significantly due to the age-related decline of physical function. Therefore, targeted interventions for older adults to improve safe cycling competence (CC) are urgently needed.

Methods: The "Safer Cycling in Older Age" (SiFAr) randomized controlled trial investigated if a progressive multi-component training program related to cycling improves CC of older adults.

Reference equations for harmonizing gait speed results of different test protocols in community-dwelling older adults.

Background And Aims: Different gait speed assessment protocols regarding start and stop of walking make comparison between studies impossible. The aim of this study was providing reference equations to estimate a person´s steady-state gait speed from gait speed measured with a test protocol including static start and/or stop.

Methods: Gait speed of 150 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 80.

Reference values of gait characteristics in community-dwelling older persons with different physical functional levels.

Background: Mobility is one major component of healthy ageing of older persons. It includes gait speed, nowadays valued as the sixth vital sign of ageing. Quantitative gait analysis can support clinical diagnostics, monitor progression of diseases and provide information about the efficacy of interventions.

Gait characteristics in community-dwelling older persons with low skeletal muscle mass and low physical performance.

Background: Demographic changes in the western world entail new clinical approaches and challenges in older persons. Low skeletal muscle mass and low physical performance in older persons are both predisposing conditions for disability and obtaining knowledge in this cohort is essential.

Aim: The primary aim of the study was to analyze a broader spectrum of gait characteristics within this specific population and differentiate them across different test conditions.

Domain-specific self-perceptions of aging are associated with different gait patterns in older adults: a cross-sectional latent profile analysis.

Background: Previous studies have pointed to the impact of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) on self-reported physical function in later life. However, less is known about associations of SPA with objectively measured physical function, especially gait. Research that examined other psychological variables and objectively measured gait has focused on single gait parameters such as gait speed, which seems to fall short for the complexity of this movement.

The course of gait speed during a 400m walk test of mobility limitations in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: The 400‑m walk test (400MWT) of usual gait speed is an assessment of mobility limitations in geriatric medicine and sarcopenic research.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the course of gait speed during a 400MWT in community-dwelling older adults in terms of physical, psychological and general health-related outcomes. Possible plateau phases during the 400MWT could enable integrated measurements of short distance walk tests.

Short distance analysis of the 400-meter walk test of mobility in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: The 400-meter walk test (400MWT) is used to assess cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness or to predict adverse outcomes such as mobility disability. Additionally, short tests of walking such as the 4- or 8-meter walk test are administered to predict mortality, falls and other events. It remains uncertain if and how an integrated measurement of a short distance during 400MWT can replace an additional short distance measurement which would be clinically useful.

The effect of different test protocols and walking distances on gait speed in older persons.

Background And Aims: Walking is the core physical activity of older persons. The assessment of walking capacity is increasingly important for clinical purposes and clinical research. Differences between assessment tools and protocols for short walks to obtain gait characteristics can be responsible for changes, e.