Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Hyung Nam Kim ◽  
Thurmon E. Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Contact Phase ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, the elderly are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

scholarly journals Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Hyung Kim ◽  
Thurmon Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Contact Phase ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

scholarly journals Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Hyung Kim ◽  
Thurmon Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Contact Phase ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

scholarly journals Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Hyung Nam Kim ◽  
Thurmon E. Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Contact Phase ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

scholarly journals Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Hyung Nam Kim ◽  
Thurmon E. Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Contact Phase ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

scholarly journals Dual-Task Does Not Increase Slip and Fall Risk in Healthy Young and Older Adults during Walking

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Soangra ◽  
Thurmon E. Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Heel Contact ◽  
Fall Risks ◽  
The Relationship

Dual-task tests can identify gait characteristics peculiar to fallers and nonfallers. Understanding the relationship between gait performance and dual-task related cognitive-motor interference is important for fall prevention. Dual-task adapted changes in gait instability/variability can adversely affect fall risks. Although implicated, it is unclear if healthy participants’ fall risks are modified by dual-task walking conditions. Seven healthy young and seven healthy older adults were randomly assigned to normal walking and dual-task walking sessions with a slip perturbation. In the dual-task session, the participants walked and simultaneously counted backwards from a randomly provided number. The results indicate that the gait changes in dual-task walking have no destabilizing effect on gait and slip responses in healthy individuals. We also found that, during dual-tasking, healthy individuals adopted cautious gait mode (CGM) strategy that is characterized by reduced walking speed, shorter step length, increased step width, and reduced heel contact velocity and is likely to be an adaptation to minimize attentional demand and decrease slip and fall risk during limited available attentional resources. Exploring interactions between gait variability and cognitive functions while walking may lead to designing appropriate fall interventions among healthy and patient population with fall risk.

scholarly journals Dizziness and prevention of falls in the elderly

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto P. Casani ◽  
Elena Navari
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Vestibular Disorders ◽  
Great Role ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Treatable Condition

Disequilibrium is one of the most common complaints that older adults bring to their physician and falling is a frequent complication; because of the increasing number of elderly patients in western society the problem grows. The increasing susceptibility to falling can be consequence of age-related physiological changes and of a higher prevalence of comorbidities causing dizziness, vertigo and imbalance; these symptoms can worse the already poor balance of old adults increasing the risk of falling. Among the major reasons of vertigo and dizziness, central vertigo and orthostatic vertigo are very common; also vestibular disorders have a great role and are currently thought to account for 48% of dizziness reported by older adults. An early identification of the treatable condition underlying dizziness in elderly would surely ameliorate the outcome of these patients.

scholarly journals Visual-Somatosensory Integration and Balance: Evidence for Psychophysical Integrative Differences in Aging

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannette R. Mahoney ◽  
Roee Holtzer ◽  
Joe Verghese
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Multisensory Processing ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Static Balance ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Stance Time ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Relationship

Research detailing multisensory integration (MSI) processes in aging and their association with clinically relevant outcomes is virtually non-existent. To our knowledge, the relationship between MSI and balance has not been well-established in aging. Given known alterations in unisensory processing with increasing age, the aims of the current study were to determine differential behavioral patterns of MSI in aging and investigate whether MSI was significantly associated with balance and fall-risk. Seventy healthy older adults ( years; 58% female) participated in the current study. Participants were instructed to make speeded responses to visual, somatosensory, and visual-somatosensory (VS) stimuli. Based on reaction times (RTs) to all stimuli, participants were classified into one of two groups (MSI or NO MSI), depending on their MSI RT benefit. Static balance was assessed using mean unipedal stance time. Overall, results revealed that RTs to VS stimuli were significantly shorter than those elicited to constituent unisensory conditions. Further, the current experimental design afforded differential patterns of multisensory processing, with 75% of the elderly sample demonstrating multisensory enhancements. Interestingly, 25% of older adults did not demonstrate multisensory RT facilitation; a finding that was attributed to extremely fast RTs overall and specifically in response to somatosensory inputs. Individuals in the NO MSI group maintained significantly better unipedal stance times and reported less falls, compared to elders in the MSI group. This study reveals the existence of differential patterns of multisensory processing in aging, while describing the clinical translational value of MSI enhancements in predicting balance and falls risk.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF CONTROLLED WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION TRAINING ON FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE AMONG HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS: A 6-WEEK PILOT STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
F. Saucedo ◽  
E.A. Chavez ◽  
H.R. Vanderhoof ◽  
J.D. Eggleston
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Fall Risk Factors ◽  
Vibration Training ◽  
Whole Body Vibration Training

Background: Falling is the second leading cause of injury-related death worldwide and is a leading cause of injury among older adults. Whole-body vibration has been used to improve fall risk factors in older adults. No study has assessed if vibration benefits can be retained over time. Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine if six-weeks of whole-body vibration could improve fall risk factors and to assess if benefits associated with the training program could be sustained two months following the final training session. Design and Setting: Repeated measures randomized controlled design. Participants: Twenty-four independent living older adults were recruited and were randomly assigned to the WBV or control group. Intervention: Participants performed three sessions of whole-body vibration training per week with a vibration frequency of 20Hz or with only an audio recording of the vibration noise. An assessment of fall risk factors was performed prior to, immediately following, and two-months after the completion of the training program. Main Outcome Measures: Fall risk factors including functional capacity, mobility, strength, and walking speed were assessed pre-training, post-training, and two-months post-training. Results: Seventeen participants completed the study. No improvements (p<0.05) between groups were found in the measures of physical performance. Conclusions: Findings revealed that six weeks of whole-body vibration is not effective in improving fall risk factors or producing benefits post-training.

scholarly journals WHAT IT TAKES TO COMBAT DECLINE: LEARNING THROUGH AN INTERPROFESSIONAL STUDENT SENIOR PARTNERSHIP

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S664-S665
Author(s):  
Anne D Katz ◽  
Judy Axonovitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
Interprofessional Team ◽  
Senior Volunteers ◽  
Professional Disciplines ◽  
Partnership Program

Abstract Healthcare is in need of a workforce with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of our aging population. Seniors face social, mental, and physical issues as they move into the later stages of life. The Student Senior Partnership Program (SSPP) connects teams of students with healthy senior volunteers in the community. Through this partnership, students learn the strategies seniors implement to stay engaged and maintain their activities of daily living to combat decline and frailty. The SSPP focuses on increasing student’s capability to assess older adults, and learn from their senior within an interprofessional team. Faculty provided training to the senior volunteers so they were prepared to function in a role as “teachers” to students from six professional disciplines (Medicine, Social Work, OT, PT, Dentistry, Pharmacy) through meaningful dialogue focused on physical well-being, relationships with family, friends, community, memory and cognition . Evaluation was performed using the Geriatrics Attitudes Scale (GAS). The pre and post survey (n=72) measured the reported capability to assess older adults and evaluate their attitudes toward the elderly. There were statistically significant improvements in six of nine assessment topics. The largest improvements were in the capability to assess resource gaps (mean=2.79 to 3.44 on a 5-point scale, p&lt;0.001), mental status (3.03 to 3.57, p&lt;0.001) and fall risk (2.99 to 3.50, p&lt;0.001). Attitudes toward the elderly were measured using the Geriatrics Attitudes Scale (GAS). Overall, students improved during the program (mean=3.88 to 4.05 on a 5-point Likert scale, p&lt;0.001).

Influence of Localized Muscle Fatigue of the Knee Joint on Gait Parameters Related to Slip Propensity

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (15) ◽  
pp. 894-898
Author(s):  
Prakriti Parijat ◽  
Thurmon E Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Muscular Fatigue ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Localized Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Heel Contact

Existing epidemiological evidence suggests that localized muscle fatigue might be considered as an intrinsic risk factor that causes lack of balance control leading to falls. The goal of the study was to examine how localized muscle fatigue of the knee joint (quadriceps) alters gait parameters that are related to slip propensity. Sixteen healthy young participants were recruited to walk across a vinyl floor surface in two different sessions (Fatigue and No fatigue). Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a three-dimensional video analysis system and force plates during both sessions. The fatigue session results indicated a substantial increase in heel contact velocity (HCV) and required coefficient of friction (RCOF), as well as a decrease in the transitional acceleration of the whole body COM (TA), walking velocity (WV), and step length (SL). In addition, a positive correlation was observed between RCOF and HCV. These findings provide new insights into the biomechanical relationship between localized muscular fatigue and gait parameters linked with slip propensity. The study concluded that localized muscular fatigue affects gait parameters and hence can be considered as a potential risk factor for slip-induced falls.

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