Don't shuffle on slippery surfaces, Clemson University, ton researchers s

[Guest guest]

Don't shuffle on slippery surfaces, Clemson University, ton researchers

say

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/cu-dso032411.php

CLEMSON, S.C. — Biomechanics researchers Higham of Clemson University

and of the College of ton conclude that moving quickly in a

forward, firm-footed stance across a slippery surface is less likely to lead to

a fall than if you move slowly. Approaching a slippery surface slowly hinders

the necessary task of shifting the center of mass forward once foot contact is

made.

The researchers studied helmeted guinea fowl strutting along a six-meter runway

that either had a rough-surface section (150-grit sandpaper) or a slippery one

(polypropylene shelf liner). High-speed video recorded the action. The

experiment is reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology, " Slipping,

sliding and stability: locomotor strategies for overcoming low-friction

surfaces, " pages 1369-1378 (vol. 214).

Helmeted guinea fowl react to slips much in the same way humans do, making them

good test subjects, according to Higham. He and are interested in how

animals move and avoid injury when making their way through their environments.

Finding out how animals can respond rapidly to unexpected changes in their

habitat, the scientists' stated that their research would " ultimately yield

important information regarding the flexibility of physiological and behavioral

systems, " according to their article.

" The findings can be useful in helping humans, especially older ones, make their

way across surfaces that are wet, icy or oily, " said Higham. " The key to

avoiding slips seems to be speed and keeping the body mass forward, slightly

ahead of the ankles after the foot contacts the ground. "

Slips are a major cause of falls that can cause injuries and even deaths. Slips

accounted for about 44 percent of fatal and nonfatal work-related falls,

according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics report in 1992.

and Higham not only saw that speed, foot position and body alignment made

a difference, but also the slip distance. For a guinea fowl to fall, it needed

to slip a minimum of 10 centimeters — just under four inches. The distance is

the same for humans, said Higham.

Guinea fowl leg joints and human knees and ankles function in similar ways: the

position of the knee relative to the foot can create joint angles — wide or

narrow — that can cause or prevent loss of balance on slippery surfaces, the

scientists said. Once the knee passes the ankle during contact with slippery

ground, slipping stops.

" Our study shows that there are common limb-control strategies on slippery

surfaces in helmeted guineas and humans, " said Higham

(http://www.clemson.edu/biosci/faculty/higham/).

[Guest guest]

'Helmeted Guinea Fowl'? They put helmets on these little guys - seriously - for

this experiment? lol ;-)

(Just kidding - this is actually the name of the little critter, and the study

authors probably had a chuckle, too.)

>

> Don't shuffle on slippery surfaces, Clemson University, ton researchers

say

>

> http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/cu-dso032411.php

>

> CLEMSON, S.C. — Biomechanics researchers Higham of Clemson University

and of the College of ton conclude that moving quickly in a

forward, firm-footed stance across a slippery surface is less likely to lead to

a fall than if you move slowly. Approaching a slippery surface slowly hinders

the necessary task of shifting the center of mass forward once foot contact is

made.

>

> The researchers studied helmeted guinea fowl strutting along a six-meter

runway that either had a rough-surface section (150-grit sandpaper) or a

slippery one (polypropylene shelf liner). High-speed video recorded the action.

The experiment is reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology, " Slipping,

sliding and stability: locomotor strategies for overcoming low-friction

surfaces, " pages 1369-1378 (vol. 214).

>

> Helmeted guinea fowl react to slips much in the same way humans do, making

them good test subjects, according to Higham. He and are interested in how

animals move and avoid injury when making their way through their environments.

>

> Finding out how animals can respond rapidly to unexpected changes in their

habitat, the scientists' stated that their research would " ultimately yield

important information regarding the flexibility of physiological and behavioral

systems, " according to their article.

>

> " The findings can be useful in helping humans, especially older ones, make

their way across surfaces that are wet, icy or oily, " said Higham. " The key to

avoiding slips seems to be speed and keeping the body mass forward, slightly

ahead of the ankles after the foot contacts the ground. "

>

> Slips are a major cause of falls that can cause injuries and even deaths.

Slips accounted for about 44 percent of fatal and nonfatal work-related falls,

according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics report in 1992.

>

> and Higham not only saw that speed, foot position and body alignment

made a difference, but also the slip distance. For a guinea fowl to fall, it

needed to slip a minimum of 10 centimeters — just under four inches. The

distance is the same for humans, said Higham.

>

> Guinea fowl leg joints and human knees and ankles function in similar ways:

the position of the knee relative to the foot can create joint angles — wide or

narrow — that can cause or prevent loss of balance on slippery surfaces, the

scientists said. Once the knee passes the ankle during contact with slippery

ground, slipping stops.

>

> " Our study shows that there are common limb-control strategies on slippery

surfaces in helmeted guineas and humans, " said Higham

(http://www.clemson.edu/biosci/faculty/higham/).

>