Research Article

Physical Performance in Older Cohorts: A Comparison of 81-Year-Old Swedish Men and Women Born Twelve Years Apart—Results from the Swedish Study “Good Aging in Skåne”

Table 3

Results of walking speed test, number of steps, step test, chair stand test, and handgrip strength test. Comparison between two cohorts of 81-year-olds born 1920–22 and 1932–34 stratified by sex.

Physical testCohort born 1920–22Cohort born 1932–34

MennMeanSDnMeanSD valueEffect sizea
Walking 15 m
 Normal speed (m/s)881.200.191421.350.24<0.0010.69
 Maximum speed (m/s)881.520.261391.720.32<0.0010.68
Walking 2 × 15 m
 Normal speed (m/s)881.140.171421.250.23<0.0010.54
 Maximum speed (m/s)881.430.281391.570.290.0010.49
Number of steps 2 × 15 m
 Normal speed (n)8845.815.2214243.116.690.0010.45
 Maximum speed (n)8842.115.0413939.275.79<0.0010.52
 Step test (n)8714.943.9213915.413.620.354
 Chair stands (s)8712.813.9013110.643.03<0.010.62
 Handgrip strength (N)88298.073.9142302.071.30.681

Women
Walking 15 m
 Normal speed (m/s)1181.130.181361.250.26<0.0010.53
 Maximum speed (m/s)1181.370.231301.550.32<0.0010.64
Walking 2 × 15 m
 Normal speed (m/s)1181.080.161351.170.230.0100.45
 Maximum speed (m/s)1171.280.211291.430.30<0.0010.57
Number of steps 2 × 15 m
 Normal speed (n)11851.745.2613648.938.080.0010.41
 Maximum speed (n)11848.516.3813045.376.90<0.0010.47
 Step test (n)11513.183.8712914.733.470.0010.42
 Chair stands (s)11614.025.7412211.383.21<0.0010.57
 Handgrip strength (N)118170.555.7136180.253.80.157

aCohen’s d.