Dynamic Stability During Gate of Older Adults

Abstract

<p>It has been found that older adults are at risk of falling in their homes, especially at night in low light situations. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the falling risk of older adults when walking in dim light on a few different surfaces that are relatable to a home environment. The 3 surfaces used include a normal (flat) condition, an uneven (with bumps) condition, and an inconsistent (on soft mats) condition. Male and Female participants over age 50 walked on each of the 3 surfaces in both light and dark conditions. During each phase, their balance was assessed based on the time it took for their center of pressure to reach the boundary of their shoe indicating instability. Data was collected using Novel Pedar In-sole sensors, and a time to boundary (TTB) analysis was performed to determine the results. A significant difference in the instability of certain conditions makes it possible to draw conclusions about the safety of home environments and make recommendations about how to improve them in order to decrease the risk of falling.</p>