Three-Dimensional Shoe Kinematics During Unexpected Slips: Implications for Shoe-Floor Friction Testing

Details

• Personal Author:
  Albert D ; Beschorner KE ; Moyer B
• Description:
  Background: Shoe design is an important component of slip and fall prevention efforts. Evaluating the slip resistance of shoes in a way that is relevant to slipping accidents requires a comprehensive understanding of the shoe biomechanics during slipping. Limitations in previous studies on this topic include omission of kinematics outside the sagittal plane, which may impact coefficient of friction measurements, and the use of multiple slip perturbations, which can lead to kinematic changes due to anticipation and adaptation. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the three-dimensional kinematics of the shoe during unexpected slips to better inform shoe-floor coefficient of friction testing. Methods: Thirteen subjects were exposed to a low friction fluid contaminant while wearing shoes without tread. The sliding speed, direction of sliding, sagittal-plane shoe-floor angle, and frontal plane shoe-floor angle were described at the moment of slip initiation, peak slipping speed (PSS), and 50% of the peak slipping speed (½ PSS). Statistical comparisons assessed whether the kinematics obtained from standard shoe coefficient of friction methods fell within the 95% confidence interval of the measured shoe kinematics at each time point. Results: At least one of the kinematic variables used during standard friction testing methods deviated from the observed kinematics at each time point. Specifically, the central tendency of the observed slips was characterized with a higher sagittal plane shoe angle at slip initiation, a more medial sliding direction at slip initiation, and a higher sliding speed at ½ PSS and PSS than those used during standard shoe friction testing methods. Conclusions: Shoe kinematics in friction testing standards exhibit differences with shoe kinematics during actual slips. Thus, a need exists for revisiting the kinematic conditions used in slip testing based on rigorous biomechanical studies of slipping. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Biomechanical Phenomena Ergonomics Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Slips And Falls Biomechanics Footwear Shoe Friction Testing Shoe Kinematics Slips, Trips, And Falls STF
• ISSN:
  2157-7323
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-11
• Volume:
  5
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068973
• Citation:
  IIE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors 2017 Jan; 5(1):1-11
• Contact Point Address:
  Kurt E. Beschorner, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Room 302, Pittsburgh, PA15271, USA
• Email:
  beschorn@pitt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20100801
• Source Full Name:
  IIE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors
• End Date:
  20140731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9792e8afa33b9604e5216796876779ef31c22b9f7cde9d49a96f0c131cc94ddaaa58c57423c842d6480e4d73834ddbde559a8bc363f993a9b5178527f1f1f014
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207530/cdc_207530_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 737.91 KB ]