Effects of Aging on the Biomechanics of Slips and Falls

描述（由申请人提供）：与滑倒和跌倒相关的伤害 事故给工业带来了重大问题，无论是在人类方面， 痛苦和经济损失。现有的证据表明， 与滑倒和跌倒事故有关的影响，但尚未解释确定 老年人发生滑倒事故的可能性较高的原因。在 这个建议，与衰老相关的内在变化，如步态适应， 肌肉骨骼和感觉退化及其对启动的影响， 将对滑动和福尔斯的检测和恢复过程进行评估， 回答为什么老年人暴露于更高的可能性， 滑倒引起的福尔斯。这项研究的目的是调查 在步行和能力恢复从滑倒相关的增加 年龄提出了一个实验，以衡量如何恶化下肢 老年人的肌肉力量激活率和感觉功能 个体在正常和异常情况下影响几个生物力学参数 条件实验的自变量将包括：年龄组 （3个级别-18岁至约35岁、40-60岁和65岁或以上）和下限 表面（2层-油性乙烯基瓷砖和室外地毯）。生物力学 测量的参数将包括：腿筋肌肉激活率，水平 足跟接触速度、摩擦需求、滑动距离和关节反应 力矩（脚踝、膝盖和臀部）。在实验之前，一个感觉组织 将对所有受试者进行SOT和MCT测试， 获得有关本体感受，视觉和囊泡的信息 功能以及肌肉控制反应）时间。等长和等速 将进行测试以评估腿部力量。据推测， 成年人的肌肉骨骼和感觉退化将限制 平衡关节反作用力矩，以减少运动过程中的节段运动 从滑倒和福尔斯跌倒中恢复，并使老年人暴露于更高的 滑倒和坠落事故的可能性。这些信息将使工程师能够 设计更好的工作环境和工作，以减少滑倒的发生率， 福尔斯爱上了老龄化的劳动力。此外，它还将提供以下信息： 可能的干预策略（肌肉强化和平衡练习） 来改善老年工人的动态平衡。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Injuries associated with slip and fall accidents pose a significant problem to industry, both in terms of human suffering and economic losses. Existing evidence has identified several aging effects related to slip and fall accidents, yet has not explained determining causes of older individual's higher likelihood of slip and fall accidents. In this proposal, intrinsic changes associated with aging such as gait adaptation, musculoskeletal and sensory degradation and its effect on the initiation, detection, and recovery processes of slips and falls will be evaluated to answer the question of why older adults are exposed to a higher likelihood of slip-induced falls. The aim of the proposed research is to investigate changes in walking and the ability to recover from slips associated with increasing age. An experiment is proposed to measure how deterioration of lower extremity muscular strength activation rate, and sensory functions among older individuals affect several biomechanical parameters under normal and abnormal conditions. Independent variables for the experiment will include; age groups (3 levels - l8 to about 35 years, 40-60 years, and 65 years or over), and floor surfaces (2 levels - oily vinyl tiles and outdoor carpet). Biomechanical parameters measured will include: hamstrings muscle activation rate, horizontal heel contact velocity, friction demands, slip distances, and the joint reactive moments (ankle, knee, and hip). Prior to the experiment, a sensory organization test (SOT) and muscle control test (MCT) will be performed on all subjects to obtain information concerning the proprioceptive, visual, and vesicular functions as well as muscle control reaction) times. Isometric and isokinetic tests will be performed to evaluate leg strength. It is hypothesized that older adults' musculoskeletal and sensory degradation will constrain the counterbalancing joint reactive moments to reduce segmental motion during recovery from slips and falls, and expose older individuals to a higher likelihood of slip and fall accidents. This information will allow engineers to design better work environments and jobs to reduce the incidence of slips and falls for an aging workforce. Additionally, it will provide information on possible intervention strategies (muscle strengthening and balance exercises) for improving dynamic equilibrium in older workers.