Want to avoid falling on slippery surfaces? Don’t shuffle
March 25th, 2011 - 5:18 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Mar 25 (ANI): Moving quickly in a forward, firm-footed stance across a slippery surface is less likely to lead to a fall than if you move slowly, according to a new study.
Biomechanics researchers Timothy Higham of Clemson University and Andrew Clark of the College of Charleston conclude that approaching a slippery surface slowly hinders the necessary task of shifting the centre of mass forward once foot contact is made.
They studied a species of bird that reacts very similarly to the way that humans react when they slip on ice or any slippery surface.
They used high-speed video to record the action of helmeted guinea fowl strutting along a six-meter runway that either had a rough-surface section (150-grit sandpaper) or a slippery one (polypropylene shelf liner).
Clark and Higham not only saw that speed, foot position and body alignment made a difference, but also the slip distance.
For a guinea fowl to fall, it needed to slip a minimum of 10 cm - just under four inches. The distance is the same for humans, said Higham.
“The findings can be useful in helping humans, especially older ones, make their way across surfaces that are wet, icy or oily,” said Higham.
“The key to avoiding slips seems to be speed and keeping the body mass forward, slightly ahead of the ankles after the foot contacts the ground,” he added.
The study appears in the Journal of Experimental Biology. (ANI)
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Tags: andrew clark, body alignment, centre of mass, clemson university, college of charleston, foot position, four inches, grit sandpaper, helmeted guinea fowl, higham, journal of experimental biology, meter runway, necessary task, polypropylene, rough surface, shelf liner, slippery one, slippery surface, slippery surfaces, speed foot