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TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: SLIPS TRIPS AND FALLS - Coggle Diagram
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION: SLIPS TRIPS AND FALLS
FALL:
An event in which a person comes to rest on the ground accidentally, excluding intentional changes of position to rest on furniture wall or other objects. (not a fall if you intentionally break your fall by landing safely).
SLIP:
A slip is caused by the absence of efficient friction between one’s feet and walking surface.
TRIP:
A trip is the loss of balance that occurs when the forward or backward momentum of one foot is interrupted.
Static friction
refers to the frictional force that acts on an object when it is not moving, but there is an applied force trying to make it move.
causes of slips trips and falls
frictional coefficient
intrinsic and extrinsic interactions
Causes of Trips: Gait Mechanics
factors
• Minimum toe clearance (MTC) = point of minimum separation between the ground and toes during forward swing
• MTC = most important kinematic consideration in clinical gait assessment regarding tripping risk
• MTC also coincides with peak forward velocity in the swinging foot
• This is when the risk of tripping is greatest as it is also when the forward-travelling centre of mass moves in front of the base of support
Causes of Trips: Unanticipated Gait Disruption
• There’s a lag between our brain registering that we’re about to fall, and our muscles reacting to the fact that we’re falling
• The brain recognizes a loss of balance before the fall actually occurs
Kinetic friction
occurs when an object is moving or sliding, acts against the motion, gets stronger at higher speeds, and is what eventually brings a moving object to a stop once applied forces are removed.
Adaptation to a slippery surface:
ENVIROINMENT AND FRICTION
• Surface roughness/texture - A rougher or more textured sole provides more contact points between the sole and ground. This increases the actual contact area for friction forces to act upon.
• Grooves/lugs - Deep grooves or lugs that protrude from the sole can help channel away water, mud, or other materials that could otherwise act as a lubricant reducing friction. They provide friction even if conditions are wet or dirty.
• Softness/hardness - A softer sole material may conform more to uneven surfaces, again increasing real contact area. But it may wear down quicker. A harder sole last longer but has less contact adaptation ability.
So in summary, topography like roughness, deepness, material properties, and tread patterns all influence the actual surface contact area and ability of shoe soles to provide effective friction tailored to different uses or surfaces. More contact = more friction resistance.
Trip Recovery Strategies
• Elevating strategy
• In response to an early swing phase perturbation, THREE kinematic changes will be likely to occur:
• Flex swing leg joints
• Extend stance leg joints
• Raise CG
• Centre of mass is moving forwards – early in the swing phase people will adopt elevating strategy
• flex swing leg at hip, knee and ankle and extend the stance leg at same joints to raise the centre of gravity to clear whatever the perturbation was