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 ◽  
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 ◽  
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.

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 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 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.

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.

scholarly journals Prediction of Fall Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults Using a Wearable System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thurmon Lockhart ◽  
Rahul Soangra ◽  
Hyunsoo Yoon ◽  
Teresa Wu ◽  
Christopher Frames ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Wearable System ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Falls are among the most common cause of decreased mobility and independence in older adults and rank as one of the most severe public health problems with frequent fatal consequences. In the present study, gait characteristics from 171 community-dwelling older adults were evaluated to determine their predictive ability for future falls using a wearable system. Participants wore a wearable sensor (inertial measurement unit (IMU)) affixed to the sternum and performed a 10-meter walking test. Measures of gait variability, complexity, and smoothness were extracted from each participant, and prospective fall incidence was evaluated over the following 6-months. Gait parameters were refined to better represent features for a random forest classifier for the fall-risk classification utilizing three experiments. The results show that the best-trained model for faller classification used both linear and nonlinear gait parameters and achieved an overall 82.4% accuracy, 86.8% sensitivity, 81.2% specificity in the blind test. These findings augment the wearable sensor's potential as an ambulatory fall risk identification tool in community-dwelling settings. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of gait features that rely less on event detection methods, and more on time series analysis techniques. Fall prevention is a critical component in older individuals’ healthcare, and simple models based on gait-related tasks and a wearable IMU sensor can determine the risk of future falls.

scholarly journals Effect of Video assisted Home-Based exercise intervention on fall risk and gait parameters in older adults in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 901-901
Author(s):  
Snehal Kulkarni ◽  
Aarti Nagarkar
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Video Assisted ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Gait Impairments

Abstract Countries across the globe recommended isolation to protect older adults from COVID-19 infection. However, this led to decreased mobility and physical inactivity potentially increasing their risk of fall. The study was conducted in a group of 88 older adults between 60-74 years with known gait impairments and high fall risk. The participants were part of our cohort study on fall prevention program. Fall risk and gait impairments were measured using wearable sensors during the Timed-up and go test (TUG) at baseline. Using technology, a 16-week video assisted home based exercises intervention was delivered to reduce fall risk and improve gait parameters. The intervention consisted of flexibility, strengthening, balance and gait training exercises given progressively through one video session per week. The participants performed these exercises at home for the rest of the week. A home visit immediately after 16th week was arranged to collect post intervention parameters. Results showed an average 20% decrease in fall risk post intervention. An overall large effect size with Cohen’s d of 0.90 was reported for fall risk. Significant difference in TUG time (Z = -4.610, p&lt; 0.000), stride velocity (Z= -5.035, p&lt;0.000), stride length (Z = -5.867, p&lt;0.000), time taken to stand (Z = -7.363, p&lt;0.000) and time taken to turn (Z = -6.079, p&lt;0.000) was observed in the post-test measurements as compared to pre-test measurements. Therefore, we conclude that video assisted exercise programs can be highly beneficial as alternatives to in person exercise intervention to prevent falls during COVID-19 isolation.

scholarly journals Gait Characteristics of Adults With Intellectual Disability

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyt Oppewal ◽  
Dederieke A. M. Festen ◽  
Thessa I. M. Hilgenkamp
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Motor Functioning ◽  
Double Support ◽  
Gait Characteristics ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Base Of Support ◽  
Negative Health Outcomes ◽  
Support Phase

Abstract Gait is a relevant and complex aspect of motor functioning. Disturbances are related to negative health outcomes. Gait characteristics of 31 adults with intellectual disability (ID) without Down syndrome (DS) (42.77±16.70 years) were investigated, and associations with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and level of ID were assessed. Sex and BMI were significantly associated with some of the gait parameters, while age and level of ID were not. Gait characteristics of adults with ID seem to be comparable to those of the general population of older adults (average 20 years older), except that adults with ID seem to spend less time in stance and double support phase and walk more variable and with a broader base of support.

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