A comparison of foot/ground interaction during stair negotiation and level walking in young and older women

Abstract

Stair design and environmental conditions may play a role in slip accidents on stairs in the workplace, but little is known about the slip resistance requirements on stairs compared to level walking. Older adults have an increased risk of falling compared to younger adults and may be at greater risk during stair negotiation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ground reaction force profiles and peak required coefficient of friction (RCOF) differed between young and elderly women or between stair ascent, stair descent and overground walking. While there was a trend towards less risky stair descent behaviour in the older women in terms of their peak RCOF values during stair descent, the increased vertical loading rate in the older women may imply reduced dynamic balance control. The largest mean RCOF peaks occurred during stair ascent in both young and older women, but there were several overground walking trials in both groups and a few stair descent trials of the young women, which resulted in RCOF peaks greater than 0.5. These results should be considered when choosing stair surface materials, particularly in occupational and outdoor settings where the tread surfaces may become wet or contaminated.

A Comparison of the Center of Pressure during Stair Descent in Young and Healthy Elderly Adults

“…Furthermore, the peak joint moment at the knee joint during the negotiation of stairs was three times as high as for level walking 9,10) . Compared to young adults, the elderly show a similar peak vertical ground reaction force 11,12) and joint moment at the knee, as well as similar changes of the plantarflexion-dorsiflexion angle of the ankle joint 13) during the descent of stairs. However, the elderly demonstrate a lower joint moment at the ankle joint during the descent of stairs 13) .…”

Reduced knee flexion is a possible cause of increased loading rates in individuals with patellofemoral pain

“…However, our findings indicate a difference of 0.57 (N/s, normalized by body weight) between groups. Another study (Hamel et al, 2005), aimed at identifying differences in loading rate between healthy young females and older females during stair ascent reported a 1.64 (N/s, normalized by body weight) difference magnitude between groups. This higher difference (Hamel et al, 2005) may have occurred due to sample characteristics being quite different and, in our study, there were no differences concerning anthropometric data.…”

The Effectiveness of Community-Based Tai Chi Training on Balance Control during Stair Descent by Older Adults

“…Stair descent is the most challenging aspect of stair negotiation 25,28) and is responsible for three-quarters of all staircase accidents 24) , even though both stair ascent and descent are physically challenging tasks for the elderly. As compared to young adults, the elderly show similar peak vertical ground reaction force and joint moment at the knee, similar changes of plantarflexion and dorsiflexion angles at the ankle joint, and a lower joint moment at the ankle joint during the descent of stairs [29][30][31] . TC has been shown to be particularly effective in the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries among the elderly as its movement forms incorporate elements of balance control, postural alignment, concentration, strength, environmental awareness and endurance 32) .…”