Gangehastighet

Gangehastighet, or walking speed, is the rate at which a person moves on foot. It is typically expressed in meters per second (m/s) or kilometers per hour (km/h) and reflects the integration of leg length, muscle strength, balance, coordination, motivation, and surface characteristics. Age, sex, body mass, footwear, and carried load all influence gait speed.

In healthy adults, typical comfortable walking speeds are around 1.2–1.4 m/s (approximately 4.3–5.0 km/h). Younger individuals generally walk faster than older adults, and taller people often have longer stride lengths that contribute to speed. In clinical settings, gait speed is a simple yet informative functional measure and a predictor of health outcomes such as disability, hospitalization, and mortality. It is commonly assessed with a timed walk over a short distance, for example 4 meters, at a usual pace; speed is calculated as distance divided by time. Variants include longer walks or dual-task conditions that add cognitive load to evaluate motor–cognitive interaction.

Gangehastighet is used across disciplines, including rehabilitation, geriatrics, transportation planning, and ergonomic design. When interpreting measurements, factors such as surface, incline, footwear, and fatigue should be considered, as they can substantially affect results. Changes in gait speed after intervention are frequently interpreted as indicators of functional gain.