Characteristics of differences in outdoor walking ability of day

―Care rehabilitation users among older people living in the community-cross-sectional study―

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of differences in outdoor walking ability in community-dwelling people requiring support or care.

Methods: 48 patients who were able to walk outdoors at level 3 or higher in the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital at Sagunto and who used the hospital's day rehabilitation service were included in the analysis. They were divided into neighborhood walking and intra-regional walking groups, and the characteristics of the differences in outdoor walking ability were compared. The following items were used for evaluation: comfortable walking speed (m/s), Timed Up & Go test (TUG), social integration items of the Quality of Community Integration Questionnaire (QCIQ), and the Walk Score.

Results: The number of participants in the neighborhood walking group was 29, and the number of participants in the community walking group was 19. Significant differences were found between the two groups in comfortable walking speed, TUG, frequency of shopping, and money management, which are sub-items of the social integration items of the QCIQ.

Conclusions: Differences in outdoor walking ability were suggested by walking speed, TUG and activities outside the home.