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Main Boards => News and Articles => Topic started by: Bigfoot_Mike on 07:42:40, 12/10/19

Title: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 07:42:40, 12/10/19
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50015982 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50015982)


The research in this article implies that walking speed at age 45 is a good indicator of future health. However, there are some issues about the report. There is no indication of the effect of height on walking speed and nothing about terrain, duration or distance. Indeed, the fastest walkers in the study were said to walk at 4 m/s, which is 3 hour marathon pace. How credible is that? How long could they keep that up? At age 45 I could comfortably run 10k in an hour, but these superhumans were apparently able to walk almost 14.5 km in the same time. I am a fast walker (at least on the flat), but would get nowhere near 8+ mph. Can anyone on here walk at that pace for any distance?
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Percy on 08:01:48, 12/10/19
I’ve scanned the research paper and can find no mention of people walking at 4 m/s. I think it’s probably careless journalism in the BBC piece. 4 m/s is Olympic-standard walking pace, 20km in 83 minutes which is faster than the women’s world record. Nobody walks normally at anything like that pace. Given that the subjects were in their 40s I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d got mph and m/s mixed up.


All that pedantry aside it’s pleasing as a fast walker.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: GnP on 08:17:46, 12/10/19
I hadn`t picked up on the supposed speeds, but I am pleased to read that as I have always walked fast. My wife complains about it. She is only small though, or maybe I will be looking after her in her demented old age. :o
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 08:18:13, 12/10/19
I suspect you are right that the maximum speed was 4 mph. I can sustain that for quite a while on the flat, even being fat and in my fifties, despite a wrecked back and a sore Achilles Tendon. Is walking speed a better indicator of health than BMI? I hope so.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 08:22:21, 12/10/19
I hadn`t picked up on the supposed speeds, but I am pleased to read that as I have always walked fast. My wife complains about it. She is only small though, or maybe I will be looking after her in her demented old age. :o
I have them same issue as you. I am 6 feet tall and my wife is under 5 feet (officially a Hobbit according to Peter Jackson) and struggles to keep up with me. I maintain that there is a minimum speed I can walk at, as I have to move my leg into place in time to stop me falling flat on my face.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: fernman on 08:32:27, 12/10/19
I'm currently halfway through reading The Great Divide by Stephen Pern (1987), a walk along the Continental Divide of the United States, in which he appears to walk at a collossal speed most of the time, the exceptions being when he was slowed down by snow or bad terrain, covering 30 miles or more day after day.

By comparison, my walking speed is what you'd expect of someone the wrong side of seventy  :) .
Personally I think the fact that I'm still walking at all, compared to many people in the same age group (or lower!) speaks volumes about my health!
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Jac on 08:38:53, 12/10/19
By comparison, my walking speed is what you'd expect of someone the wrong side of seventy  :) .
Personally I think the fact that I'm still walking at all, compared to many people in the same age group (or lower!) speaks volumes about my health!

Exactly :)

Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 08:39:37, 12/10/19
The men’s world record for 5k works out at an average walking speed of 4.6 m/s. There won’t be too many 45 year olds walking at 87% of world record pace.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Owen on 08:50:11, 12/10/19
The men’s world record for 5k works out at an average walking speed of 4.6 m/s. There won’t be too many 45 year olds walking at 87% of world record pace.


Bl****y slackers!!!
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Percy on 09:12:33, 12/10/19
I’ve just noticed that the researchers tested the participants walking speed on an 8m long pad. I reckon I could sustain 4m/s over that distance  ;D
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: BuzyG on 10:04:31, 12/10/19
I’ve just noticed that the researchers tested the participants walking speed on an 8m long pad. I reckon I could sustain 4m/s over that distance  ;D
I have my doubts, though you could easily run it.  Walking 4m/s is very fast.  Certainly faster than I can walk.


4mph on the other hand, I can manage all day long on the flat.  :)
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: tonyk on 13:29:02, 12/10/19
 Perhaps this should serve as a warning to those on here who stop to take photos and stroll along. ;)

 
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Mel on 14:05:11, 12/10/19
 :D   :P



Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: WhitstableDave on 16:13:59, 12/10/19
As someone who naturally walks briskly, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the study.  :)

The BBC report originally mentioned 4m/s as the fastest walking speed in the tests, but that has now been corrected to 2m/s (about 4.45mph).

Leg length, body composition and other factors were taken into account (see report supplement).

Terrain is definitely mentioned - the tests were done using an electronic walkway!
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: pleb on 11:06:05, 14/10/19
Well I am 47 tomorrow, slim as a rake, can get a move on, but a medical disaster!
So much for theories. ;D
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: GnP on 11:15:10, 14/10/19
I wonder how fast Eliud Kipchoge walks.... :o incredible........
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 13:04:19, 14/10/19
I wonder how fast Eliud Kipchoge walks.... :o incredible........
After his 2 hour marathon distance run, he probably can’t walk.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: hinch184 on 14:14:59, 14/10/19
Doesn't strike me as being overly accurate, I tend to up my pace during the "rat race" around Leeds, happy to slow it when I head home from work as I'm not really in that rush.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 12:50:05, 01/11/19
Out of interest, for those who did watch the mixed 50k walking race in The world Championships, the winner averaged 6min 21sec for the entire distance.
Ive seen a few race walking events in the past, they were held around the Wentloog Flats outside Newport, and it was remarkable to see how quickly they could race walk.

The really fast ones, at the front, could walk at around 6minute mile pace, and maintain that pace for up to marathon distance.

It just puts the human body, and what's its capable of, into perspective.
Title: Re: Walking Speed an Indicator of Health?
Post by: tonyk on 11:02:50, 04/11/19


The really fast ones, at the front, could walk at around 6minute mile pace, and maintain that pace for up to marathon distance.

It just puts the human body, and what's its capable of, into perspective.
I used to be a race walker and the best I could manage was around 58 minutes for 10k.Whilst the top guys are very impressive it is contrived movement that takes at least six months to learn.To become fluid in movement takes a few years and its a stage that I never got to.It shows how the human body can adapt to even the most absurd form of movement and eventually make it look natural.