Research Society and Development · Aug 15, 2026
Low gait speed as a marker of falls and fall risk in community-dwelling older adults: Integrative literature review
By Santos GDS, Amorim CF, Ferreira RDS et al.
OBJECTIVE: to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the association between low gait speed and falls or fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: integrative literature review, structured by the PECO strategy, with a search in PubMed/MEDLINE and selection of studies published between 2021 and 2026. Original studies that investigated gait speed, gait parameters, or physical performance in association with falls, recurrent falls, injurious falls, or fall risk in community-dwelling older adults were included. RESULTS: 20 studies were included. Overall, low gait speed, reduction in speed over time, and changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters were associated with the occurrence or increased risk of falls. Heterogeneity was observed regarding cutoff points, with values close to 0.8 m/s and 1.0 m/s highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: gait speed constitutes a relevant clinical-functional marker to identify vulnerability to falls, although it should be interpreted in conjunction with other factors, such as balance, muscle strength, history of falls, cognition, and environmental conditions.