Abstract
Successful hazard accommodation is an important aspect of maintaining a continuous walking pattern and avoiding slips and falls. Kinematic data was collected for thirty-six participants who were asked to step on a target within a linear runway. Experimental conditions were varied to produce a range of anticipatory locomotor adjustments by using two walking velocities (normal, fast) and target sizes (5cm x 5cm, 33cm x 53cm). Gait parameters were examined for the five steps prior to hitting the target. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to determine the changes in the gait parameters among the steps. Results showed a distribution of anticipatory locomotor adjustments over multiple steps, with the largest adjustments generally occurring during the last step. Given ample time to perceive a hazard and make necessary adjustments, it seems that individuals can successfully accommodate a slip and fall hazard. Present findings indicate that future research regarding slips and falls hazards may benefit from including analyses of multiple steps preceding hazards to understand the entire event.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.