Walking difficulties do not prevent activity – even slow walking can feel strenuous for older adults

Maintaining walking ability is important for independent living. Modifying walking, for example by slowing the pace or using walking aids, may indicate declining functional capacity, but it also supports independent daily life.

However, the strain caused by prolonged walking in older adults has been studied only to a limited extent. This study examined how self-reported walking difficulties and walking modifications were related to walking duration and speed.

Even slow walking can be demanding

The study found that walking difficulties and walking modifications were not associated with walking duration or perceived exertion caused by walking.

Participants walked at a pace that felt somewhat hard to them. As the walk continued, perceived exertion and heart rate increased among all participants, regardless of walking speed.

“This suggests that even slower prolonged walking can feel demanding,” says doctoral researcher Heli Peltomaa from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä.

Older adults who modified their walking walked just as fast and as long as those who did not perceive any walking difficulties.

“This was a surprising finding, as slowing the walking pace or reducing walking duration are typical ways to modify walking,” says doctoral researcher Heli Peltomaa from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä.

Intensity should be assessed individually

Peltomaa emphasizes that physical activity intensity should be evaluated in relation to an individual’s fitness and functional capacity — especially among older adults with reduced walking ability.

“For an older adult, walking may feel strenuous even at a slow pace. If intensity is assessed uniformly across individuals, the actual effort exerted by older adults may be underestimated. Slow walking may not register as activity on activity monitors, even if it feels strenuous.”

The need to modify walking or the presence of walking difficulties does not mean one should stop moving.

“Older adults are encouraged to keep walking — at their own pace and on their own terms,” Peltomaa reminds.

The study is part of the AGNES project funded by the European Research Council and the Academy of Finland. About 100 men and women aged 78–90 participated in a 30-minute laboratory walking test. During the walk, heart rate and cadence were measured using wearable sensors, and perceived exertion was monitored. Participants were divided into three groups based on self-reported walking difficulties, walking modifications, or no difficulties.

Publication

Peltomaa, H., Rantakokko, M., Matikainen-Tervola, E., Aittokoski, T., Rantanen, T., & Karavirta, L. (2025). Differences in prolonged walking intensity and duration between older people reporting difficulty, modifications or no difficulty in walking. Experimental Gerontology, 211, 112914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2025.112914