Effect of foot–floor friction on the external moment about the body center of mass during shuffling gait: a pilot study

Abstract

Herein, we investigated the effect of friction between foot sole and floor on the external forward moment about the body center of mass (COM) in normal and shuffling gaits. Five young male adults walked with normal and shuffling gaits, under low- and high-friction surface conditions. The maximum external forward moment about the COM (MEFM-COM) in a normal gait appeared approximately at initial foot contact and was unaffected by floor condition. However, MEFM-COM in a shuffling gait under high-friction conditions exceeded that under low-friction conditions (p < 0.001). Therein, MEFM-COM increased with an increasing utilized coefficient of friction at initial foot contact; this effect was weaker during a normal gait. These findings indicate that increased friction between foot sole and floor might increase tripping risk during a shuffling gait, even in the absence of discrete physical obstacles.

Design and analysis of magnetostrictive two-dimensional kinetic energy harvester

“…By the literature [35][36][37][38], it is envisioned herein that the above harvester operates in an environment similar to a subway car junction or the like where the floor is movable, and the actual arrangement thereof placed under the floor is shown in figure 3. This arrangement allows the floor to move in both vertical and horizontal directions.…”