Gait Characteristics Associated with Trip-Induced Falls on Level and Sloped Irregular Surfaces

Abstract

Same level falls continue to contribute to an alarming number of slip/trip/fall injuries in the mining workforce. The objective of this study was to investigate how walking on different surface types and transverse slopes influences gait parameters that may be associated with a trip event. Gait analysis was performed for ten subjects on two orientations (level and sloped) on smooth, hard surface (control) and irregular (gravel, larger rocks) surfaces. Walking on irregular surfaces significantly increased toe clearance compared to walking on the smooth surface. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in cadence (steps/min), stride length (m), and speed (m/s) from control to gravel to larger rocks. Significant changes in external rotation and increased knee flexion while walking on irregular surfaces were observed. Toe and heel clearance requirements increased on irregular surfaces, which may provide an explanation for trip-induced falls; however, the gait alterations observed in the experienced workers used as subjects would likely improve stability and recovery from a trip.

Anthropometric, functional and foot trajectory determinants of stride length in self-reliant community-dwelling elderly persons in Talca, Chile

“…These values are similar to those found in the present study (Table 2). A study of elderly men 19 reported SL results of 1530±120 mm on a hard surface, which are also similar to the results of this experiment ( Table 2). The normative values for the spatial and temporal qualities of gait in the elderly have also been previously documented: Hollman et al 8 recorded a SL of 1370±120 mm for men and 1180±150 mm for women.…”

Fixed and self-paced treadmill walking for able-bodied and transtibial amputees in a multi-terrain virtual environment

“…More research is needed to verify if these speed strategies are repeatable in a larger sample, since inconsistent results have been reported in previous studies. For example, compared to level walking, AB participants decreased [21][22][23] or increased [24] speed uphill, decreased [21,22] or increased [23,24] speed downhill, and both AB and TT participants reduced speed over uneven surfaces [12,14,16]. Other studies have also shown AB and TT maintained speed for uphill, downhill, and uneven surfaces [15,[25][26][27][28].…”

“…Participants did not reduce speed, but walked with shorter, wider, faster steps. Although, speed was not reduced when walking with surface translations, earlier studies by other researchers demonstrated that both ablebodied and transtibial amputee participants walked slower over other surfaces (e.g., loose rocks, wooden blocks, and slopes), compared to level ground [12][13][14][15][16]. Amputee gait is considered less stable than able-bodied due to loss of lower limb musculature and proprioception.…”

“…Amputee gait is considered less stable than able-bodied due to loss of lower limb musculature and proprioception. Transtibial amputees typically have a more variable gait pattern and walk with shorter, wider steps and slower walking speeds, compared to able-bodied, for level and non-level surfaces [11][12][13][14][15][16]. Therefore, the ability to alter gait speed may be especially important for transtibial amputees when walking over more challenging surfaces.…”

Peer Review #2 of "Look out: an exploratory study assessing how gaze (eye angle and head angle) and gait speed are influenced by surface complexity (v0.1)"

“…Here, we will use 'complex' to refer to all non-smooth surfaces. These include surfaces with slope changes [6], inconsistently spaced foot targets [1,7], uneven surfaces [8] and combinations of these features [9,10]. Smooth surfaces here are taken to include even, horizontal surfaces in laboratories [9], on walkways [11] and outside [12].…”