Influences of backpack loading on recovery from anterior and posterior losses of balance: An exploratory investigation.

Backpacks are common devices for carrying external posterior loads. However, relatively little is known about how these external loads affect the ability to recover from balance loss. In this exploratory investigation, 16 young adults (8 female, 8 male) performed forward and backward lean-and-release balance recovery trials, while wearing a backpack that was unloaded or loaded (at 15% of individual body weight). We quantified the effects of backpack loading on balance recovery in terms of maximum recoverable lean angles, center-of-mass kinematics, and temporal-spatial stepping characteristics. Mean values of maximum lean angles were 20° and 9° in response to forward and backward perturbations, respectively. These angles significantly decreased when wearing the additional load for only backward losses of balance. During backward losses of balance, the additional load decreased peak center-of-mass velocity and increased acceleration by ∼10 and 18% respectively, which was accompanied by ∼5% faster stepping responses and steps that were ∼9% longer, 11% higher, and had an ∼10% earlier onset. Thus, wearing a backpack decreases backward balance recovery ability and changes backward recovery stepping characteristics.

The influence of assistive technology and home modifications on falls in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Fall-related injuries can reduce older adults' independence and result in economic burdens. The assistive technologies and home modifications explored in this review are suggested to reduce the risk of falls of community-dwelling older people. However, the location of the in-home assistive technology being used, and the in-home modification likely interact and influence fall reduction and injury prevention of community-dwelling older adults. This interactive effect is poorly understood. A better understanding of the impact of assistive technologies and modifications in the homes of older adults is needed to support the appropriate application of these devices. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to detail the contribution of assistive technology and home modification on falls, fall frequency, fall severity, and fall location within the homes of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We will source articles from 3 databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection) and will assess them using a set of pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Reporting will be in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Two independent reviewers will screen each study at the title and abstract and full-text level. We are managing citations within the Covidence software. Data extraction and analysis will be reported in a systematic review. DISCUSSION: The outcome variables of interest are fall frequency, fall location, injury, mortality, and hospitalization. These variables of interest all relate to falls, their severity, and their locations in the home. We are seeking a better understanding of how these outcomes vary with the use of different assistive technologies and home modifications as reported in the literature. This will help us understand where falls occur which may inform how different assistive technologies can be used by community-dwelling older adults to prevent falls and adverse outcomes in different areas of their homes. Our review will provide a basis for more intentional prescription of ambulatory assistive technologies and evidence-based recommendations of home modifications. It may also inform adaptations to existing technologies to foster safer mobility in the homes of community-dwelling older adults. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This protocol has been submitted for registration in PROSPERO CRD42022370172 on October 24, 2022.

Compensatory stepping responses during real-life falls in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory studies of postural responses suggest that stepping is a common strategy for balance recovery. Yet little is known about the frequency and characteristics of stepping responses during real-life falls in older adults. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: (1) Among falls experienced by older adults in long-term care (LTC), what is the prevalence of attempts to recover balance by stepping? (2) How often are steps aligned to the direction of the fall? (3) Do the prevalence and characteristics of steps associate with intrinsic and situational factors? METHODS: We collected and analyzed video footage of 1516 falls experienced by 515 residents of LTC (of mean age 82.7 years). Using generalized estimating equations, we tested whether the prevalence, direction and size of steps associated with sex, age, fall direction, activity at the time of falling, cause of imbalance, and holding or grasping objects. RESULTS: Stepping after imbalance was observed in 76% of falls, and 80% of these cases involved multiple steps. The direction of steps aligned with the initial fall direction in 81% of cases. The size of the first step was less than one-half foot length in 64% of cases. Secondary steps tended to be similar in size to the first step. Steps were more common for falls during walking than standing, and for sideways falls. Steps were less common in falls involving held objects, and steps were less likely to be aligned with the fall direction when reach-to-grasp responses were observed. SIGNIFICANCE: Older adults in LTC tended to respond to falls with multiple compensatory steps. Steps were tailored to the direction of the fall, but small in size (less than one-half foot length in size). Exercise programs for fall prevention in older adults should focus on increasing step size to enhance the effectiveness of step recovery responses.

Effect of Handrail Height and Age on Trunk and Shoulder Kinematics Following Perturbation-Evoked Grasping Reactions During Gait.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the effect of handrail height and age on trunk and shoulder kinematics, and concomitant handrail forces, on balance recovery reactions during gait. BACKGROUND: Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury in adults in North America. Handrails can significantly enhance balance recovery and help individuals to avoid falls, provided that their design allows users across the lifespan to reach and grasp the rail after balance loss, and control their trunk by applying hand-contact forces to the rail. However, the effect of handrail height and age on trunk and shoulder kinematics when recovering from perturbations during gait is unknown. METHOD: Fourteen younger and 13 older adults experienced balance loss (sudden platform translations) while walking beside a height-adjustable handrail. Handrail height was varied from 30 to 44 inches (76 to 112 cm). Trunk and shoulder kinematics were measured via 3D motion capture; applied handrail forces were collected from load cells mounted to the rail. RESULTS: As handrail height increased (up to 42 inches/107 cm), peak trunk angular displacement and velocity generally decreased, while shoulder elevation angles during reaching and peak handrail forces did not differ significantly between 36 and 42 inches (91 and 107 cm). Age was associated with reduced peak trunk angular displacements, but did not affect applied handrail forces. CONCLUSION: Higher handrails (up to 42 inches) may be advantageous for trunk control when recovering from destabilizations during gait. APPLICATION: Our results can inform building codes, workplace safety standards, and accessibility standards, for safer handrail design.

Circumstances of Falls During Sit-to-Stand Transfers in Older People: A Cohort Study of Video-Captured Falls in Long-Term Care.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the circumstances of falls during sit-to-stand transfers in long-term care (LTC), including the frequency, direction, stepping and grasping responses, and injury risk, based on video analysis of real-life falls. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: LTC. PARTICIPANTS: We analyzed video footage of 306 real-life falls by 183 LTC residents that occurred during sit-to-stand transfers, collected from 2007 to 2020. The mean age was 83.7 years (SD=9.0 years), and 93 were female (50.8%). INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used Generalized Estimating Equations to test for differences in the odds that a resident would fall at least once during the rising vs stabilization phases of sit-to-stand and to test the association between the phase of the transfer when the fall occurred (rising vs stabilization) and the following outcomes: (1) the initial fall direction; (2) the occurrence, number, and direction of stepping responses; (3) grasping of environmental supports; and (4) documented injury. RESULTS: Falls occurred twice as often in the rising phase than in the stabilization phase of the transfer (64.0% and 36.0%, respectively). Falls during rising were more often directed backward, while falls during stabilization were more likely to be sideways (odds ratio [OR]=1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07-3.55). Falls during rising were more often accompanied by grasping responses, while falls during stabilization were more likely to elicit stepping responses (grasping: OR=0.30; 95% CI=0.14-0.64; stepping: OR=8.29; 95% CI=4.54-15.11). Injuries were more likely for falls during the stabilization phase than the rising phase of the transfer (OR=1.73; 95% CI=1.04-2.87). CONCLUSION: Most falls during sit-to-stand transfers occurred from imbalance during the rising phase of the transfer. However, falls during the subsequent stabilization phase were more likely to cause injury.

Protective responses of older adults for avoiding injury during falls: evidence from video capture of real-life falls in long-term care.

BACKGROUND: falls are common in older adults, and any fall from standing height onto a rigid surface has the potential to cause a serious brain injury or bone fracture. Safe strategies for falling in humans have traditionally been difficult to study. OBJECTIVE: to determine whether specific 'safe landing' strategies (body rotation during descent, and upper limb bracing) separate injurious and non-injurious falls in seniors. DESIGN: observational cohort study. SETTING: two long-term care homes in Vancouver BC. METHODS: videos of 2,388 falls experienced by 658 participants (mean age 84.0 years; SD 8.1) were analysed with a structured questionnaire. General estimating equations were used to examine how safe landing strategies associated with documented injuries. RESULTS: injuries occurred in 38% of falls, and 4% of falls caused injuries treated in hospitals. 32% of injuries were to the head. Rotation during descent was common and protective against injury. In 43% of falls initially directed forward, participants rotated to land sideways, which reduced their odds for head injury 2-fold. Upper limb bracing was used in 58% of falls, but rather than protective, bracing was associated with an increased odds for injury, possibly because it occurred more often in the demanding scenario of forward landings. CONCLUSIONS: the risk for injury during falls in long-term care was reduced by rotation during descent, but not by upper limb bracing. Our results expand our understanding of human postural responses to falls, and point towards novel strategies to prevent fall-related injuries.

Effects of the Mobility-Fit Physical Activity Program on Strength and Mobility in Older Adults in Assisted Living: A Feasibility Study.

Physical activity programs focusing on fall prevention often overlook upper-limb strength, which is important for transferring, balance recovery, and arresting a fall. We developed and evaluated a physical activity program, Mobility-Fit for older adults in Assisted Living (AL) that includes upper-limb strengthening, agility, coordination, and balance exercises. Thirty participants (85 ± 6 years) were recruited from two AL facilities; 15 were assigned to Mobility-Fit (three times/week, 45 min/session for 12 weeks) and 15 maintained usual care. Twenty-two participants (11 in each group) completed the study. We compared outcome changes between groups and interviewed participants and staff to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of the program. Among participants who attended Mobility-Fit, knee extension strength increased by 6%, reaction time decreased by 16%, and five-time sit-to-stand duration decreased by 15%. Conversely, participants in the usual care group had a 6% decrease in handgrip strength. Changes of these outcomes were significantly different between two groups (p < 0.05). Participants enjoyed the program and staff suggested some changes to improve attendance. Our results indicate that Mobility-Fit is feasible to deliver and beneficial for older adults in AL and may guide future clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of upper limb strengthening on safe mobility of older adults in care facilities.

The Effect of Handrail Cross-Sectional Design and Age on the Speed and Quality of Reach-To-Grasp Reactions to Recover Balance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of handrail cross-section on the speed and quality of reach-to-grasp movements following balance loss in younger and older adults. BACKGROUND: Grasping a handrail is a common strategy for balance recovery. For handrails to be effective, the design must enable fast and accurate reactive grasping. Little is known about the effect of handrail cross-section on the timing or quality of the reach-to-grasp movement following balance loss. METHODS: Twenty-four younger and 16 older adults experienced incrementally increasing magnitudes of perturbations in the forward and backward direction until they were no longer able to recover balance. We analyzed the last trial where the participant could recover using only the handrail, without stepping or relying on the harness, the maximum withstood perturbation (MWP). Seven handrail cross-sections were tested. RESULTS: Handrail cross-section did not affect the speed or timing of the reach-to-grasp reaction for younger or older adults. However, handrail cross-section affected the MWP, the grip types used, and the likelihood of making an error or adjustment when grasping. The greatest MWP and fewest errors occurred with 1.5" round handrails. CONCLUSION: The absence of common strategies for accurately grasping complex shapes (reaching more slowly), combined with the higher frequency of errors with larger handrails, suggests that both older and younger adults prioritized quickly reaching the handrail over prehension during reach-to-grasp balance reactions. APPLICATION: This work provides new insights on the effect of age and handrail cross-sectional design on reach-to-grasp reactions to recover balance, which can inform safer handrail design standards.

Injuries from falls by older adults in long-term care captured on video: Prevalence of impacts and injuries to body parts.

BACKGROUND: Falls are the leading cause of injuries in older adults. However, most falls in older adults do not cause serious injury, suggesting that older adults may fall in a manner that reduces the likelihood of impact to body sites that are most vulnerable to injury. In this observational study of falls in long-term care (LTC), we tested whether body parts differed in their probability of impact and injury. METHODS: We recorded and analyzed videos of 2388 falls by 658 LTC residents (mean age 84.0 (SD = 8.1); 56.4% female). We used Linear Mixed Models to test for differences between body parts in the probability of impact and injury, and injury when impacts occurred. RESULTS: Injuries were reported in 38.2% of falls, and 85.9% of injuries involved direct impact to the injured body part. Impact occurred most often to the hip/pelvis (probability (standard error) = 0.95 (0.01); p < .001 relative to other body parts), and least often to the head (0.35 (0.01)). Conversely, injury occurred most often to the head (p < .001 relative to other body parts). The probability of injury when impacts occurred was 0.40 (0.01) for the head, and 0.11 or less for all other body parts. CONCLUSION: Our results help to explain why most falls by older adults in LTC do not cause serious injury: residents land on body parts that are the most resilient to injury. The high susceptibility of the head to injury reinforces the need to enhance upper limb protective responses for fall arrest. The dominant role of direct impact as the mechanism of injury supports approaches to attenuate impact forces through strategies like protective clothing and compliant flooring.

The Effect of Wave Motion Intensities on Performance in a Simulated Search and Rescue Task and the Concurrent Demands of Maintaining Balance.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine how intensity of wave motions affects the performance of a simulated maritime search and rescue (SAR) task. BACKGROUND: Maritime SAR is a critical maritime occupation; however, the effect of wave motion intensity on worker performance is unknown. METHODS: Twenty-four participants (12 male, 12 female) performed a simulated search and rescue task on a six-degree-of-freedom motion platform in two conditions that differed in motion intensity (low and high). Task performance, electromyography (EMG), and number of compensatory steps taken by the individual were examined. RESULTS: As magnitude of simulated motion increased, performance in the SAR task decreased, and was accompanied by increases in lower limb muscle activation and number of steps taken. CONCLUSIONS: Performance of an SAR task and balance control may be impeded by high-magnitude vessel motions. APPLICATION: This research has the potential to be used by maritime engineers, occupational health and safety professionals, and ergonomists to improve worker safety and performance for SAR operators.

The effect of handrail cross-sectional design and age on applied handrail forces during reach-to-grasp balance reactions.

Handrails have been shown to reduce the likelihood of falls. Despite common use, little is known about how handrail shape and size affect the forces that people can apply after balance loss, and how these forces and the corresponding ability to recover balance depend on age. Following rapid platform translations, 16 older adults and 16 sex-matched younger adults recovered their balance using seven handrail cross-sections varying in shape and size. Younger adults were able to withstand higher perturbations, but did not apply higher forces, than older adults. However, younger adults achieved their peak resultant force more quickly, which may reflect slower rates of force generation with older adults. Considering handrail design, the 38 mm round handrails allowed participants to successfully recover from the largest perturbations and enabled the highest force generation. Conversely, tapered handrails had the poorest performance, resulting in the lowest force generation and withstood perturbation magnitudes. Our findings suggest that the handrail cross-sectional design affects the magnitude of force generation and may impact the success of recovery. Our findings can inform handrail design recommendations that support effective handrail use in demanding, balance recovery scenarios.

Accuracy of Kinovea software in estimating body segment movements during falls captured on standard video: Effects of fall direction, camera perspective and video calibration technique.

Falls are a major cause of unintentional injuries. Understanding the movements of the body during falls is important to the design of fall prevention and management strategies, including exercise programs, mobility aids, fall detectors, protective gear, and safer environments. Video footage of real-life falls is increasingly available, and may be used with digitization software to extract kinematic features of falls. We examined the validity of this approach by conducting laboratory falling experiments, and comparing linear and angular positions and velocities measured from 3D motion capture to estimates from Kinovea 2D digitization software based on standard surveillance video (30 Hz, 640x480 pixels). We also examined how Kinovea accuracy depended on fall direction, camera angle, filtering cut-off frequency, and calibration technique. For a camera oriented perpendicular to the plane of the fall (90 degrees), Kinovea position data filtered at 10 Hz, and video calibration using a 2D grid, mean root mean square errors were 0.050 m or 9% of the signal amplitude and 0.22 m/s (7%) for vertical position and velocity, and 0.035 m (6%) and 0.16 m/s (7%) for horizontal position and velocity. Errors in angular measures averaged over 2-fold higher in sideways than forward or backward falls, due to out-of-plane movement of the knees and elbows. Errors in horizontal velocity were 2.5-fold higher for a 30 than 90 degree camera angle, and 1.6-fold higher for calibration using participants' height (1D) instead of a 2D grid. When compared to 10 Hz, filtering at 3 Hz caused velocity errors to increase 1.4-fold. Our results demonstrate that Kinovea can be applied to 30 Hz video to measure linear positions and velocities to within 9% accuracy. Lower accuracy was observed for angular kinematics of the upper and lower limb in sideways falls, and for horizontal measures from 30 degree cameras or 1D height-based calibration.

The Role of Fall Biomechanics in the Cause and Prevention of Bone Fractures in Older Adults.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Adults over age 65 experience the highest rates of bone fracture, and 90% of fractures in older adults are caused by falls from standing height or lower. Advances in fracture prevention rely on our ability to prevent falls, reduce the severity of falls, and enhance the resistance of bone to trauma. To help guide these efforts, we need improved understanding on the types of falls that cause fractures. RECENT FINDINGS: In this review, we describe recent evidence on how the mechanics of falls in older adults influence the risk for fractures to the hip, wrist, vertebrae, and humerus. We discuss how fracture risk depends on fall height, fall direction, and landing configuration. We also review the benefits of exercise, wearable protective gear, and environmental modifications in preventing fractures in older adults. Our findings highlight promising new directions in fracture prevention, and the need for collaboration between the bone and falls research communities to implement proven strategies and generate new solutions.

A kinematic analysis of balance recovery following an unexpected forward balance loss during stair descent.

Falls during stair descent pose a major health concern. A stronger understanding of recovery from balance loss during stair descent is needed to guide fall prevention strategies and environmental design. We characterized balance recovery strategies, trunk and center-of-mass (COM) kinematics, and handrail use following unexpected forward balance loss during stair descent, and the effect of perturbation magnitude on these outcomes. Eighteen young adults experienced a rapid platform translation during stair descent to disrupt balance. Deception was used to reduce anticipation. All participants used compensatory stepping to recover balance, and most applied forces to the handrail in multiple directions. Higher perturbation magnitude resulted in higher COM velocity and handrail forces, more frequent incomplete steps, and quicker step contact time. Our findings provide a foundation for understanding balance recovery on stairs. The findings emphasize the importance of designing stairways that enable compensatory stepping, and handrails that permit adequate force generation in multiple directions to facilitate balance recovery on stairs.

Effect of Holding Objects on the Occurrence of Head Impact in Falls by Older Adults: Evidence From Real-Life Falls in Long-Term Care.

BACKGROUND: Falls cause approximately 80% of traumatic brain injuries in older adults, and nearly one third of falls by residents in long-term care (LTC) result in head impact. Holding objects during falls, such as mobility aids, may affect the ability of LTC residents to avoid head impact by arresting the fall with their upper limbs. We examined the prevalence of holding objects and their effect on risk for head impact during real-life falls in older adults living in LTC. METHODS: We analyzed videos of 1105 real-life falls from standing height by 425 LTC residents, using a validated questionnaire to characterize the occurrence of head impact and whether the resident held objects during descent and impact. We classified objects as either "weight-bearing" (via contact to the fixed environment, eg, chairs and walkers) or "non-weight-bearing" (eg, cups) and tested their effect on odds for head impact with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Residents held objects in more than 60% of falls. The odds for head impact were reduced for falls where weight-bearing objects were held or grasped during descent (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval = 0.39-0.70) or maintained throughout the fall (odds ratio = 0.34; 95% confidence interval = 0.23-0.49). The most commonly held objects were chairs/wheelchairs (23% of cases), tables/counters (10% of cases), and walkers/rollators (22% of cases); all reduced the odds of head impact when held during descent. Holding non-weight-bearing objects did not affect the odds of head impact (odds ratio = 1.00; 95% confidence interval = 0.64-1.55). CONCLUSION: Our results show that older adults in LTC use held, weight-bearing objects to reduce their risk for head impact during falls.

Estimating Trunk and Neck Stabilization for Avoiding Head Impact during Real-World Falls in Older Adults.

In this work, we quantify the neck's involvement in stabilizing the head during falls in older adults to avoid head impacts. We tracked kinematics of 12 real-world backward falls in long-term care captured on video, where head impact was avoided. We estimated dynamic spring-dashpot parameters of the neck and hip representing active muscle activity and passive tissue structures. Neck stiffness, damping, and target posture averaged 24.00±6.17Nm/rad, 0.38±0.16Nms/rad, and 76.2±14.7° flexion respectively. The stiffness and target posture suggest that residents actively contracted their neck muscles to maintain the head upright. Our results shed light on the importance of neck strength for avoiding head impact during a fall.Clinical Relevance-Falls account for 80% of traumatic brain injuries in adults 65+ years. While upper limb bracing can reduce the risk of head impacts during a fall in young adults, this protective response is less effective in older adults living in longterm care. Understanding how the neck and torso musculature are used to avoid head impact can guide the design of therapeutic exercise programs and assistive or protective devices.

Quantifying Segmental Contributions to Center-of-Mass Motion During Dynamic Continuous Support Surface Perturbations Using Simplified Estimation Models.

Investigating balance reactions following continuous, multidirectional, support surface perturbations is essential for improving our understanding of balance control in moving environments. Segmental motions are often incorporated into rapid balance reactions following external perturbations to balance, although the effects of these motions during complex, continuous perturbations have not been assessed. This study aimed to quantify the contributions of body segments (ie, trunk, head, upper extremity, and lower extremity) to the control of center-of-mass (COM) movement during continuous, multidirectional, support surface perturbations. Three-dimensional, whole-body kinematics were captured while 10 participants experienced 5 minutes of perturbations. Anteroposterior, mediolateral, and vertical COM position and velocity were calculated using a full-body model and 7 models with reduced numbers of segments, which were compared with the full-body model. With removal of body segments, errors relative to the full-body model increased, while relationship strength decreased. The inclusion of body segments appeared to affect COM measures, particularly COM velocity. Findings suggest that the body segments may provide a means of improving the control of COM motion, primarily its velocity, during continuous, multidirectional perturbations, and constitute a step toward improving our understanding of how the limbs contribute to balance control in moving environments.

The Effect of Fall Biomechanics on Risk for Hip Fracture in Older Adults: A Cohort Study of Video-Captured Falls in Long-Term Care.

Over 95% of hip fractures in older adults are caused by falls, yet only 1% to 2% of falls result in hip fracture. Our current understanding of the types of falls that lead to hip fracture is based on reports by the faller or witness. We analyzed videos of real-life falls in long-term care to provide objective evidence on the factors that separate falls that result in hip fracture from falls that do not. Between 2007 and 2018, we video-captured 2377 falls by 646 residents in two long-term care facilities. Hip fracture was documented in 30 falls. We analyzed each video with a structured questionnaire, and used generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to determine relative risk ratios (RRs) for hip fracture associated with various fall characteristics. All hip fractures involved falls from standing height, and pelvis impact with the ground. After excluding falls from lower than standing height, risk for hip fracture was higher for sideways landing configurations (RR = 5.50; 95% CI, 2.36-12.78) than forward or backward, and for falls causing hip impact (3.38; 95% CI, 1.49-7.67). However, hip fracture risk was just as high in falls initially directed sideways as forward (1.14; 95% CI, 0.49-2.67), due to the tendency for rotation during descent. Falling while using a mobility aid was associated with lower fracture risk (0.30; 95% CI, 0.09-1.00). Seventy percent of hip fractures involved impact to the posterolateral aspect of the pelvis. Hip protectors were worn in 73% of falls, and hip fracture risk was lower in falls where hip protectors were worn (0.45; 95% CI, 0.21-0.99). Age and sex were not associated with fracture risk. There was no evidence of spontaneous fractures. In this first study of video-captured falls causing hip fracture, we show that the biomechanics of falls involving hip fracture were different than nonfracture falls for fall height, fall direction, impact locations, and use of hip protectors. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Characterizing the demands of backward balance loss and fall recovery during stair descent to prevent injury.

Understanding the demands of balance recovery on stairs is important for developing strategies to prevent falls on stairs. This study characterized recovery strategies and whole-body movement following unexpected backward balance loss during stair descent in twelve young adults. Following balance loss, peak downward COM velocity was approximately double that experienced during non-perturbation stair descent. Participants used several balance recovery strategies: harness reliance (n = 1), no grasping reaction (n = 3), and grasping some environmental feature (n = 8). Of the five participants who used the handrail, four demonstrated grasping errors. Peak resultant handrail forces ranged from 24.2N to 238.3N. The results highlight the challenge of balance recovery during stair descent, showing that some people will use any available surface to arrest a fall. Our findings serve as a benchmark to understand the impact of stair-related interventions on fall recovery.

Effect of handrail height and age on the timing and speed of reach-to-grasp balance reactions during slope descent.

We investigated the effect of handrail height on the timing and speed of reach-to-grasp balance reactions during slope descent, in fourteen younger and thirteen older adults. Participants walked along an 8° slope mounted to a robotic platform. Platform perturbations evoked reach-to-grasp reactions. Handrail height did not significantly affect handrail contact time (i.e., time from perturbation onset to handrail contact) or movement time (i.e., time from EMG latency to handrail contact). Participants appeared to compensate for the increased hand-handrail distance with higher rails via increased peak upward hand speed, and decreased vertical handrail overshoot. Aging was associated with slower EMG latency, reduced hand acceleration time, and increased hand deceleration time. Our findings suggest that participants were not disadvantaged by higher handrails from reach-to-grasp timing or speed perspectives, and that other metrics (e.g., center-of-mass control after grasping) may be more important when evaluating handrail designs for balance recovery.