Abstract
A laboratory study was conducted to examine the initiation and recovery from foot slips among different age groups utilizing biomechanical parameters, muscle strength, and sensory measurements. Forty two subjects from three age groups (young, middle, and elderly) walked around a circular track at a comfortable pace, while carrying a light load and while unloaded. Slippery floor surfaces were placed on the track over force platforms at random intervals. The results indicated that younger subjects slipped as often as elderly subjects, however, the recovery process of older individuals was much slower and less effective. The ability to successfully recover from a slip (thus preventing a fall) is believed to be affected by lower extremity muscle strength and sensory degradation of the elderly individuals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.