Abstract
Use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) and hand-held displays (HHDs) may affect the effectiveness of stability control mechanisms and impair resistance to falls. This study aimed to examine whether the ability to control stability during locomotion is diminished while using HMDs and HHDs. Fourteen healthy adults (21–46 years) were assessed under single-task (no display) and dual-task (spatial 2-n-back presented on the HMD or the HHD) conditions while performing various locomotor tasks. An optical motion capture system and two force plates were used to assess locomotor stability using an inverted pendulum model. For perturbed standing, 57% of the participants were not able to maintain stability by counter-rotation actions when using either display, compared to the single-task condition. Furthermore, around 80% of participants (dual-task) compared to 50% (single-task) showed a negative margin of stability (i.e., an unstable body configuration) during recovery for perturbed walking due to a diminished ability to increase their base of support effectively. However, no evidence was found for HMDs or HHDs affecting stability during unperturbed locomotion. In conclusion, additional cognitive resources required for dual-tasking, using either display, are suggested to result in delayed response execution for perturbed standing and walking, consequently diminishing participants’ ability to use stability control mechanisms effectively and increasing the risk of falls.
Highlights
Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, Department of Mathematics and Technology, University of Applied Sciences Koblenz, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Abstract: Use of head-mounted displays (HMDs) and hand-held displays (HHDs) may affect the effectiveness of stability control mechanisms and impair resistance to falls
The perturbation magnitude while performing either of the dual tasks (HMD or HHD) was adjusted to the individual maximum at which participants did not step in the CON condition
No statistically significant main effects amongst conditions were found for total centre of pressure (CoP) excursion distance during quiet bipedal standing
Summary
Around 80% of participants (dual-task) compared to 50% (singletask) showed a negative margin of stability (i.e., an unstable body configuration) during recovery for perturbed walking due to a diminished ability to increase their base of support effectively. Additional cognitive resources required for dual-tasking, using either display, are suggested to result in delayed response execution for perturbed standing and walking, diminishing participants’ ability to use stability control mechanisms effectively and increasing the risk of falls. In work environments, such displays provide a promising alternative to the rather restricting paper lists or hand-held displays (HHDs) and increase efficiency and business turnover [4] Despite their benefits, wearable technologies may have negative safety implications, especially when used during locomotion. Access of the central nervous system to multiple solutions to control walking decreases with the involvement of a secondary task, leading to reduced body stability and yet more so in the presence of external perturbations [18]
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