Control of dynamic stability during adaptation to gait termination on a slippery surface

An unexpected slip during gait termination results in a generalised slip response designed to regain stability and prevent a fall. With knowledge of and experience with a slippery surface, locomotor behaviour adapts to proactively diminish the effect of the slip and improve the reactive control during the slip. Our purpose was to examine the organisation of the adaptation to a slippery surface during gait termination. After receiving an unexpected slip during gait termination, participants (N = 8) experienced cued gait termination trials in which they were given knowledge of the surface characteristics (i.e., slippery or non-slippery). The observed strategy used to repeatedly stop on a slippery surface involves proactively diminishing the size of the slip perturbation through a flattened foot at heel contact, anterior shift of the COM, shorter step, stance leg extension and swing limb slowing, as well as improving the reaction to the slippery surface through decreased muscle activity and an appropriate decrease in the braking force generation. The implications of this research are that a combination of knowledge of and experience with a slippery surface enables proactive and reactive adjustments in behaviour to effectively and more safely stop walking on a slippery surface.