Comparison of Physical Performance, Balance, and Functional Mobility Parameters According to Walking Speed in Geriatric Individuals

Walking speed will be assessed using the 4-Meter Walk Test, a key indicator of functional mobility in geriatric individuals. Participants will be asked to walk a 4-meter test area in the center at their "natural and comfortable walking speed," using 1-meter "acceleration" zones at the beginning and 1-meter "deceleration" zones at the end of a 6-meter flat course. The measurement will be recorded with a stopwatch the moment the participant's foot crosses the 4-meter marked area, and the result will be calculated in m/s (Studenski et al., 2011).

To assess lower extremity muscle strength and balance, participants will be asked to stand up and sit down as quickly as possible, five times consecutively, from a standard chair 43-45 cm high, with their arms crossed over their chest. The timer will start with the "start" command and end when the fifth sitting is completed (Bohannon, 2006).

To measure functional mobility, the participant will get up from the chair, walk a distance of 3 meters, return, and sit back down in the chair. This time will be recorded in seconds using a stopwatch (Podsiadlo & Richardson, 1991).

To measure static balance and stability limits, the maximum distance the participant can reach without losing balance and without taking a step, while standing next to a wall with the shoulder flexed at 90 degrees, will be measured (Duncan et al., 1990).

Participants' static balance will be determined by recording the "time they can stand on one leg" (maximum 60 seconds) with their eyes open and hands on their hips, on both their dominant and non-dominant legs (Springer et al., 2007).

To measure hamstring and lower back flexibility, the participant will sit in a long, straight position, reaching forward without bending their knees. The distance reached by their fingertips will be recorded on a "sit-and-reach bench" (Wells & Dillon, 1952).

To assess high-level mobility, participants will be recorded in seconds for safely and as quickly as possible ascending and descending a staircase of standard step height [a specified number of steps, e.g., 10 steps] (Nightingale et al., 2003).

Upper extremity muscle strength will be measured using a digital hand dynamometer according to the ASHT (American Society of Hand Therapists) protocol. Participants will be asked to grip with maximum force while sitting upright, with shoulder adduction and elbow 90 degrees flexed. Three repetitions will be performed for each hand, and the average of these measurements in kilograms (kg) will be included in the analysis (Roberts et al., 2011; Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2019).