A study has found that increasing the walking pace, by as little as 14 steps per minute, can significantly improve physical function, particularly in older adults who are frail or at risk of becoming so. Researchers conducted a study with 100 older adults living in retirement communities. Participants were divided into two groups, one walking at their usual pace and the other at a faster pace. After 12 weeks, researchers assessed their performance on the 6-minute walk test. The researchers found that an increase of just 14 steps a minute (about a 10-15% boost in cadence) was enough to improve physical performance. The study also found that even those starting at low fitness levels could increase their pace during the 12-week intervention.