BACKGROUND Task-specific perturbation training is a widely studied means of fall prevention, utilizing techniques that induce slips or slip-like perturbations during gait. Though effective, these methods only simulate narrow ranges within the larger space of possible slipping conditions encountered in daily life. Here we describe and test a novel, wearable apparatus designed to address these limitations and simulate a diverse range of slipping disturbances. METHODS The device consists of wireless triggering and detachable outsole components that provide adequate friction with the floor when secured to the wearer's foot, but suddenly create a low-friction surface underfoot upon release. "Benchtop" tests were carried out to quantify device triggering characteristics (i.e. cutting temperature, release delay) and the resulting friction reduction. The device was also tested on six healthy young adults (3 female, age 23 ± 2.4 years), who walked with and without the device to observe how gait kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters were influenced, then performed 12 walking trials ending with a slip delivered by the device. Each participant also completed a survey to obtain opinions on device safety, device comfort, slip realism, and slip difficulty. A linear mixed effects analysis was employed to compare subject spatiotemporal parameters with and without the apparatus, as well as correlation coefficients and root mean square errors (RMSE) to assess the impact of the device on lower limb gait kinematics. Slip onset phases, distances, directions, velocities, and recovery step locations were also calculated. RESULTS This device rapidly diminishes available friction from static coefficients of 0.48 to 0.07, albeit after a substantial delay (0.482 ± 0.181 s) between signal reception and outsole release. Strong correlations (R > 0.93) and small RMSE between gait kinematics with and without the device indicate minimal effects on natural gait patterns, however some spatiotemporal parameters were significantly impacted. A diverse range of slip perturbations and recovery steps were successfully elicited by the device. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the efficacy and utility of a wearable slipping device to deliver diverse slip conditions. Such an apparatus enables the study of unconstrained slips administered across the gait cycle, as well as during different locomotor behaviors like turning, negotiating slopes, and level changes.

中文翻译：

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一种新颖的可穿戴设备，可在步态中传递不受约束的，不可预测的滑动扰动。

背景技术特定任务的扰动训练是利用在步态中引起滑倒或类似滑倒的扰动的技术来防止跌倒的一种广泛研究的手段。尽管有效，但是这些方法仅模拟了日常生活中可能发生的打滑情况的较大空间内的狭窄范围。在这里，我们描述并测试了一种新颖的可穿戴设备，旨在解决这些局限性并模拟各种范围的滑动干扰。方法该设备由无线触发和可拆卸的外底组件组成，当固定到穿着者的脚上时，它们可以与地板产生足够的摩擦，但是释放后会突然在脚下形成低摩擦表面。进行了“台式”测试，以量化设备的触发特性（例如，切割温度，释放延迟），从而减少摩擦。还对该装置进行了六名健康的年轻人（3名女性，年龄23±2.4岁）的测试，他们在有或没有该装置的情况下行走，观察步态运动学和时空参数如何受到影响，然后进行了12次步行试验，结果由装置。每个参与者还完成了一项调查，以获取有关设备安全性，设备舒适性，防滑感和防滑难度的意见。使用线性混合效应分析来比较使用和不使用该仪器时的受试者时空参数，以及相关系数和均方根误差（RMSE），以评估该仪器对下肢步态运动学的影响。还计算了滑移开始阶段，距离，方向，速度和恢复步骤的位置。结果尽管在信号接收和外底释放之间存在相当大的延迟（0.482±0.181 s），该设备仍可将静摩擦系数从0.48迅速减小至0.07。有和没有器械时，步态运动之间的强相关性（R> 0.93）和较小的RMSE表明对自然步态模式的影响极小，但是一些时空参数受到显着影响。该装置成功地引发了各种各样的滑动扰动和恢复步骤。结论我们的结果突出了可穿戴滑动装置提供各种滑动条件的功效和实用性。这样的设备能够研究整个步态周期以及在不同的运动行为（如转弯，协商坡度和水平变化）过程中施加的无约束滑移。