A laboratory study was conducted to examine gait changes between younger and older subjects as they walked across different floor surfaces. Twenty subjects participated in the experiment (five each of older and younger males and females). For half of the trials, subjects carried light loads that blocked their view of the floor surface immediately in front of them. Subjects walked on slippery (soapy water on vinyl) and stable (outdoor carpet) floor surfaces, as well as transitioning from one surface to another. Responses studied included: required coefficient of friction (RCOF), stride length (SL), and minimum toe clearance (MTC). Significant effects were found for the floor surface, load versus no load condition, and some interactions involving age (older versus younger subjects). Not all expected differences due to age were found in this experiment. The lack of significant differences between younger and older subjects could be due to the older subjects that participated in the experiment. They were volunteers at a local medical center, were in good physical shape, and were probably not typical of the population of people over 65 years of age. RELEVANCE TO INDUSTRY: Slips and falls in industry are costly safety issues in terms of human suffering as well as financial compensation. In many facilities and at home, people make transitions from one floor surface to another many times each day, while carrying loads or just walking. A better understanding of characteristics of people as they walk on slippery floor surfaces and the changes that might occur with age, will allow engineers to design better floor surfaces to reduce the incidence of slips and falls.

中文翻译：

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过渡地板表面和视线遮挡对与滑倒和跌倒相关的步态特征的年龄相关影响


进行了一项实验室研究，以检查年轻和年长受试者在不同地板表面行走时的步态变化。二十名受试者参加了实验（老年和年轻男性和女性各五名）。在一半的试验中，受试者携带的负载很轻，这些负载挡住了他们前方地板表面的视线。受试者在光滑（乙烯基上的肥皂水）和稳定（室外地毯）地板表面上行走，以及从一个表面过渡到另一个表面。研究的反应包括：所需摩擦系数 (RCOF)、步幅长度 (SL) 和最小脚趾间隙 (MTC)。发现地板表面、负载与无负载条件以及一些涉及年龄（年长与年轻受试者）的相互作用有显着影响。在此实验中并未发现所有因年龄引起的预期差异。年轻和年长受试者之间缺乏显着差异可能是由于参与实验的年长受试者所致。他们是当地一家医疗中心的志愿者，身体状况良好，可能不是典型的 65 岁以上人群。与工业的相关性：工业中的滑倒和跌倒是造成人类痛苦和经济赔偿代价高昂的安全问题。在许多设施和家里，人们每天都会在搬运货物或步行时多次从一个地板表面转换到另一个地板表面。更好地了解人们在光滑地板表面行走时的特征以及随着年龄可能发生的变化，将使工程师能够设计更好的地板表面，以减少滑倒和跌倒的发生率。