The Effect of Age on Gait Speed When Texting
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15507481 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Linson John Alapatt (Queensland Government), Nancye M Peel (0000-0002-3038-8881, The University of Queensland), Natasha Reid (0000-0001-9813-5613, The University of Queensland), Len Gray (0000-0003-2141-0802, The University of Queensland), Leonard C Gray (The University of Queensland), Ruth E Hubbard (0000-0002-8688-5836, The University of Queensland, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 599-599 |
| Publication date | 2020-01-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph17020599 |
| PMID | 31963409 |
| OpenAlex | W3000482094 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 24 |
Texting while walking exerts a high cognitive load, and may be a sensitive test of the integrity of the cognitive-motor interface. We aimed to investigate the association between chronological age and gait speed while texting. A convenience sample of 308 community-dwellers was recruited: n ≥ 50 in each age group (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59) and n = 100 aged ≥60 years. Gait speed was measured over 10 metres under two experimental conditions: 1) walking at usual pace; 2) walking at usual pace while texting the message "Good morning Harry" on their smartphone. Both median gait speed with and without texting decreased with increasing age ( p p < 0.001). Median gait speeds while texting in people aged 50-59 (1.07 m/s) and ≥60 years (1.00 m/s) were below the recommended minimum for safely crossing roads (1.20 m/s). Texting while walking currently exposes people aged 50 and over to considerable environmental hazards. The significant slowing of gait speed while texting from middle age may be a marker of neurodegeneration, a cohort effect, or an appropriate compensatory response to reduce the risk of injury
Cognition · Cohort · Gait · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Morning · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Poison control · Preferred walking speed · Injury Epidemiology and Prevention · Medicine · Older Adults Driving Studies · Psychology · Traffic and Road Safety · Internal Medicine
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.6 |
| Citation span | 2021 - 2023 (3) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |