The Effects of Age on Stress and The Biomechanics of Slips and Falls

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dc.contributor.authorDavis, Thomas Wayneen
dc.contributor.committeechairLockhart, Thurmon E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSmith-Jackson, Tonya L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRoberto, Karen A.en
dc.contributor.departmentIndustrial and Systems Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:43:07Zen
dc.date.adate2002-08-28en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:43:07Zen
dc.date.issued2002-08-15en
dc.date.rdate2003-08-28en
dc.date.sdate2002-08-22en
dc.description.abstractResearch has shown that older adults who have experienced a previous fall are 60-70% more likely to suffer future falls. A study was conducted to investigate if stress and anxiety associated with a fear of falling contributes to the increased incidents of falls among older adults. The investigation compared physiological parameters, with biomechanical parameters of walking for twenty-eight participants in two age groups: (18-35) and (65 or older). Both age groups were evaluated while walking over dry and slippery floor surfaces. Biomechanical parameters included: step length, required coefficient of friction (RCOF), slip distance, and heel contact velocity. Physiological parameters included: stress and anxiety. Overall, the results indicated that there were differences between older and younger adult's biomechanical parameters of walking, and their physiological stress and anxiety associated with an inadvertent slip. Younger adult's normal RCOF was higher and their normal step length was longer compared to older adults. Older adult's stress level after a slip was significantly higher than younger adults. However, younger and older adult's anxiety scores were not significantly different. Furthermore, younger and older adults modified their step length differently to avoid slipping, when walking over the slippery floor surface. It was concluded that some anxiety and stress may be beneficial in reducing the occurrence of inadvertent slips and falls due to an increased awareness of one's external environment.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-08222002-112844en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08222002-112844/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/44316en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartThesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectHeel Contact Velocityen
dc.subjectStressen
dc.subjectRequired Coefficient of Frictionen
dc.subjectAnxietyen
dc.subjectStep Lengthen
dc.titleThe Effects of Age on Stress and The Biomechanics of Slips and Fallsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineIndustrial and Systems Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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