[caption id="attachment_4346" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Nordic walking"]
[/caption]Carol Forsloff - Here's important news for seniors, or for people of any age for that matter. The faster you walk, the longer you live.
Researchers recently found that walking speed is correlated with
survival rates in older adults, as written in the January 5 issue of
JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
"Remaining years of life vary widely in older adults,
and physicians should consider life expectancy when assessing goals of
care and treatment plans. However, life expectancy based on age and sex
alone provides limited information because survival is also influenced
by health and functional abilities," is the statement that underlines
the value of this information.
Stephanie
Studenski, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Pittsburgh, and her team
looked at the data involving adults 65 years or adulter over a period of
6 to 21 years. The adults had an average age of 73.5 years.
The
research found that walking speed was as good an indicator of longevity
as hospitalizations and other factors. Researchers believe that
walking speed is predictive because, "walking requires
energy, movement control, and support and places demands on multiple
organ systems, including the heart, lungs, circulatory, nervous, and
musculoskeletal systems. Slowing gait may reflect both damaged systems
and a high energy cost of walking."
