It may seem like just a simple way of getting around, but your walking pace hides surprising clues about your brain function, heart health, and even your expected lifespan.
Here’s what science says your steps are telling you.
Walking activates your entire body
Walking might seem effortless, but it actually demands coordination between multiple systems in the body.
Your bones and muscles support you, your eyes and brain manage movement, and your heart and lungs provide essential oxygen.
Also read: 12 Daily Habits that Could Keep You From Getting Sick
As you age, each of these systems can weaken, and the result often shows in slower walking speeds.
Your walking style is rooted in childhood
Researchers have discovered a link between midlife walking speed and intelligence and motor skills developed in early childhood.
This suggests that walking pace may not just reflect your age, but also your lifelong brain and physical health development.
Walking speed predicts how long you’ll live
A study involving 34,000 older adults found a strong correlation between faster walking speed and longer life expectancy.
Also read: How to Manage Psoriasis in the Summer Without Hiding Your Skin
For instance, 75-year-old men with a slow walking pace had just a 19 % chance of living another 10 years, while faster walkers had an 87 % chance.
Slow walking can signal disease
A French study showed that even among healthy older adults, slower walkers were three times more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than those with a brisker pace.
Walking speed can thus serve as an independent indicator of overall health.
How to measure your walking speed
You can easily check your own pace with a quick test. Mark out a distance of 5 meters to get up to speed, followed by 10 meters to measure your walking time.
Also read: The World’s Healthiest People Share Their Daily Habits You Can Start Today
Divide the distance by the seconds it takes, and you’ll have your speed in meters per second. It’s fast, free, and revealing.
Average walking speed in your 40s
People in their 40s are generally still in good shape. Women walk at about 1.39 m/s and men at 1.43 m/s.
At this stage, a solid walking speed suggests healthy physical and cognitive function without much age-related decline.
Average walking speed in your 50s
In your 50s, women typically slow to 1.31 m/s, while men maintain their pace at 1.43 m/s.
Also read: How to Tell If a Tick Has Infected You with Lyme Disease
The slight decline in women indicates early signs of aging, but overall, most people in this decade still retain high functional capacity.
Average walking speed in your 60s
For women, the average drops further to 1.24 m/s, while men surprisingly still average 1.43 m/s.
This shows that men in their 60s often preserve their physical condition better, although gender differences begin to stand out more clearly.
Average walking speed in your 70s
By your 70s, walking speed tends to decline more significantly. Women average 1.13 m/s, and men drop to 1.26 m/s.
Also read: Your Body Warns You a Month Before a Stroke - Here’s What to Watch for
This is a period where age-related physical decline becomes more apparent, but those who walk faster tend to face fewer health risks.
Average walking speed in your 80s
In your 80s, speed drops to 0.94 m/s for women and 0.97 m/s for men.
While this marks a notable slowing down, staying close to or above the average can still be a strong sign of good health and a lower likelihood of hospital stays.
You can improve your walking pace
Even if your pace is slower than average, you can make improvements.
Simple habits like daily walks, strolling with a friend or pet, and choosing to walk longer routes can help boost your speed.
Every step - no matter how small - contributes to your health.
This article is based on information from Flowee.cz.