Gait, in simple words, is your manner of walking, and an increasing amount of research shows that it is a significant predictor of overall — and ongoing — health. Your gait is a function of how mobile you are, which means it’s connected to virtually every system in your body. That’s what makes it such a useful measure of health. And that’s why gait is often called the sixth vital sign.
Health care professionals can tell a lot about a person’s health from their gait, hence it is likely that people with neurologic, muscular, or skeletal problems will undergo an observational gait analysis as part of their physical evaluation. Think about your blood pressure. Alone, it doesn’t reveal the complete story about your health. But high blood pressure can tell your level of risk for a number of negative future health events, like heart attacks and strokes. And it becomes an even more helpful measure when used in combination with other health indicators.
Similarly, your gait can tell a lot about your health and functional status. Gait and walking speed serve as clinical indicators for wellbeing and longevity. Walking speed can predict a number of future health events, from functional decline and falls to hospitalization and mortality. And a recent study found a strong link between reduced walking speed and accelerated rates of aging in otherwise healthy adults in their 40s.