Takayuki Tamura, RPT, Yohei Otaka, MD, PhD, Jun Nakamoto, MD, Keisuke Kato, RPT
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 7: 102-106, 2016
Objective: Slipping is a major cause of falls. We
investigated body kinematics during slipping when
stepping forward.
Methods: Five healthy adults (mean age, 22.2 ± 2.4
years) participated in the study. When the participants
stepped forward with the right leg onto a treadmill,
one of three types of slips (forward, lateral, or medial)
was induced by rapid movement of the treadmill belt.
The relationship between the base of support (BOS)
and center of gravity (COG) was investigated using
three-dimensional motion analysis.
Results: The COG was displaced anterolaterally
during all three types of slips. On the horizontal plane,
the COG often deviated from the BOS with large
medial and lateral slips. Participants most often lost
their balance with medial slips, when the COG
deviated outside an altered BOS.
Conclusion: Postural control is difficult and is at
increased risk of failure during slipping. The risk is
greatest in medial slips, followed by lateral slips, and
is least in forward slips.
Key words: falls, motion analysis, postural control, base of support