Preferred walking speed

Common card · No. 207782

The preferred walking speed is the speed at which humans or animals choose to walk. For humans, it varies more by culture and available visual feedback than by body type, typically falling between 1.10 metres per second (4.0 km/h; 2.5 mph; 3.6 ft/s) and 1.65 metres per second (5.9 km/h; 3.7 mph; 5.4 ft/s). Individuals may find speeds slower or faster than their default uncomfortable. Horses have also demonstrated narrow distributions of preferred walking speed within a given gait, which suggests that the process of speed selection may follow similar patterns across species. Preferred walking speed has important clinical applications as an indicator of mobility and independence. For example, elderly people or people suffering from osteoarthritis must walk more slowly. Improving (increasing) people's preferred walking speed is a significant clinical goal in these populations. People have suggested mechanical, energetic, physiological and psychological factors as contributors to speed selection...

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