INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cane tip design and cane technique modification on obstacle detection performance as they interact with the size, height, and position of obstacles. METHODS A repeated-measures design with block randomization was used for the study. In experiment one, participants attempted to detect obstacles with either a marshmallow tip or a bundu basher tip. In experiment two, participants were asked to detect obstacles using either the constant-contact technique or a modified constant-contact technique. RESULTS As predicted, the obstacle detection rate with the bundu basher tip (M = 66.1%, SD = 7.4%) was significantly higher than that with the marshmallow tip (M = 54.6%, SD =6.8%), F(1, 11) = 24.19, p < .001, r = .83. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the obstacle detection rate with the modified constant-contact technique (M =56.0%, SD = 7.4%) was significantly lower than that with the constant-contact technique (M = 61.3%, SD = 5.2%), F(1, 13) = 6.49, p = .024, r = .58. In addition, participants detected the obstacles that were positioned at the center of their walking path (M = 61.9%, SD = 6.6%) at a significantly higher rate than those positioned slightly off to the side (M = 55.4%, SD = 7.3%), F(1, 13) =10.73, p = .006, r = .67. DISCUSSION A bundu basher tip was more advantageous than the marshmallow tip for detecting obstacles. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTITIONERS Given the findings of the study, cane users and orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists should consider using or recommending a bundu basher tip (or a similar tip that has an increased contact area with the walking surface), particularly when the traveling environment often presents unexpected obstacles that may trip the cane user.

中文翻译：

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长手杖的障碍物检测：手杖尖端设计和技术修改对性能的影响。

引言 本研究的目的是调查手杖尖端设计和手杖技术修改对障碍物检测性能的影响，因为它们与障碍物的大小、高度和位置相互作用。方法 采用区组随机化的重复测量设计进行研究。在实验一中，参与者试图用棉花糖尖端或 bundu basher 尖端检测障碍物。在实验二中，参与者被要求使用恒定接触技术或改进的恒定接触技术检测障碍物。结果 正如预测的那样，bundu basher 尖端的障碍物检测率 (M = 66.1%, SD = 7.4%) 显着高于棉花糖尖端 (M = 54.6%, SD =6.8%), F(1, 11 ) = 24.19，p < .001，r = .83。然而，与我们的假设相反，改进的恒定接触技术的障碍物检测率（M = 56.0％，SD = 7.4％）显着低于恒定接触技术（M = 61.3％，SD = 5.2％），F（1, 13 ) = 6.49，p = .024，r = .58。此外，参与者检测到位于其步行路径中心的障碍物（M = 61.9%，SD = 6.6%）的比率明显高于那些稍微偏向一侧的障碍物（M = 55.4%，SD = 7.3 %), F(1, 13) =10.73, p = .006, r = .67。讨论 在检测障碍物方面，bundu basher 尖端比棉花糖尖端更有利。对从业者的启示 鉴于研究结果，手杖使用者和定向和移动 (O&M) 专家应考虑使用或推荐使用 bundu basher 尖端（或与行走表面接触面积更大的类似尖端），