Objective To investigate the correlation between the walking function status and the quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy in the elderly patients. Methods Two hundreds elderly (over 70 years) patients undergoing colonoscopy were selected. The walking function status was evaluated by the ability of daily living scale (Schonberg index), and the patients were divided into normal walking group (114 cases) and difficulty walking group (86 cases). Patients in the 2 groups accepted the unified intestinal preparation programs and education guidance. The patients′ compliances to preparation instructions were observed. The causes of non-compliance were investigated. The quality of bowel preparation was assessed using the Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS). The correlation between walking function status and compliance or quality of bowel preparation was analyzed with the Spearman rank correlation test. Results The proportion of failing to completely take the intestinal cleanser was lower in the difficulty walking group than that in the normal walking group: 53.5% (46/86) vs. 26.3%(30/114), and there was statistical difference (χ2=15.362, P<0.05). The reasons for failing to completely take the intestinal cleanser in the difficulty walking group were as follows: unconvenient of frequently walking to the restroom to defecate (39 cases) , forgetting (4 cases) and adverse reactions (3 cases). The good proportion of bowel preparation compliance and sufficient rate of bowel preparation in difficulty walking group were significantly lower than that in normal walking group: 41.9% (36/86) vs. 65.8%(75/114) and 55.8% (48/86) vs. 72.8% (83/114), and there were statistical differences (χ2 = 11.365 and 6.264, P<0.01 or<0.05). There was no significant difference between 2 groups in the constituent ratio of strictly implementing the bowel preparation program (P>0.05). The correlation analysis result showed that the walking function status was positively correlated with compliance and quality of bowel preparation in the elderly patients (r=0.238 and 0.177, P<0.05). Conclusions The walking function status is correlated to the quality of bowel preparation in elderly patients undergoing colonoscopy. Difficulty walking may indicate the poor compliance and poor colonoscopy preparation in the aged.