Injuries associated with slip and fall accidents continue to pose a significant burden to industry, both in terms of human suffering and economic losses. A majority of occupational falls leading to injuries and deaths are a result of foot slippage and are typically experienced by laborers. The literature provides convincing arguments that localized muscle fatigue can disrupt the quality of the signal from the periphery for effective balance control during slip perturbations, and increase the risk of slips and falls. Although government, labor, and industry organizations have been working to reduce the risks of fall related injuries, workers are still broadly exposed to risks associated with fall accidents. These findings warrant the need for additional studies to provide more effective prevention strategies and design criteria for jobs and working environment to reduce occupational slip and fall accidents. This proposal addresses this need through a combination of experimental studies and biomechanical modeling. Two laboratory experiments will be conducted to quantify the effects of localized muscle fatigue on slip propensity and balance recovery. The first experiment will evaluate the effects of localized muscle fatigue on the slip initiation process while walking over a non-slippery surface. Distal limb muscles (ankle plantarflexors, knee extensors) and a combination of ankle, knee, and hip muscles will be fatigued independently on different weeks. Additionally, the effects of floor inclination, load carriage, work pace (i.e., walking speed) and age will be ascertained. The second experiment will evaluate the effects of localized muscle fatigue on the balance recovery process following slips induced by walking on an unexpectedly slippery surface. Distal limb muscles as well as proximal muscles (i.e., low back) will be fatigued independently on different weeks. The effects of floor inclination, work pace, and age will be ascertained. Fall recovery characteristics will be quantified on both the perturbed and unperturbed foot. A model will be developed to characterize balance control strategies of both perturbed and un-perturbed limbs by quantifying joint moments and power of the ankle, knee, hip, and low back. The proposed work addresses several NORA Priority Areas in the context of work-related traumatic falls. The main Priority Areas are: 1) Risk Assessment Methods;2) Control Technology;and 3) Intervention Effectiveness Research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01OH009222-02
Application #
7910636
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZOH1-GGB (02))
Program Officer
Inserra, Steve
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$298,515
Indirect Cost
Name
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
003137015
City
Blacksburg
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
24061
Fino, Peter C; Mojdehi, Ahmad R; Adjerid, Khaled et al. (2016) Comparing Postural Stability Entropy Analyses to Differentiate Fallers and Non-fallers. Ann Biomed Eng 44:1636-45
Fino, Peter C; Frames, Christopher W; Lockhart, Thurmon E (2015) Classifying step and spin turns using wireless gyroscopes and implications for fall risk assessments. Sensors (Basel) 15:10676-85
Parijat, Prakriti; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Liu, Jian (2015) EMG and kinematic responses to unexpected slips after slip training in virtual reality. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 62:593-9
Fino, Peter C; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Fino, Nora F (2015) Corner height influences center of mass kinematics and path trajectory during turning. J Biomech 48:104-12
Parijat, Prakriti; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Liu, Jian (2015) Effects of perturbation-based slip training using a virtual reality environment on slip-induced falls. Ann Biomed Eng 43:958-67
Fino, Peter; Lockhart, Thurmon E (2014) Required coefficient of friction during turning at self-selected slow, normal, and fast walking speeds. J Biomech 47:1395-400
Zhang, Jian; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Soangra, Rahul (2014) Classifying lower extremity muscle fatigue during walking using machine learning and inertial sensors. Ann Biomed Eng 42:600-12
Soangra, Rahul; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Lach, John et al. (2013) Effects of hemodialysis therapy on sit-to-walk characteristics in end stage renal disease patients. Ann Biomed Eng 41:795-805
Yeoh, Han T; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Wu, Xuefang (2013) Nonfatal occupational falls among U.S. health care workers, 2008-2010. Workplace Health Saf 61:3-8
Yeoh, Han T; Lockhart, Thurmon E; Wu, Xuefang (2013) Non-fatal occupational falls on the same level. Ergonomics 56:153-65

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications