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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application.

The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application.

Published on: June 12, 2009

Negotiating stairs with an inconsistent riser: Implications for stepping safety.

Natasha C Francksen¹, Thijs M A Ackermans¹, Denis Holzer²

¹Research to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.

Applied Ergonomics

|June 6, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Inconsistent stair rise heights significantly increase fall risk by reducing foot clearance and contact length. Biomechanical adjustments were not made, highlighting the need for safer, uniform stair construction.

Keywords:

Fall risk Step geometry Variable dimensions

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Last Updated: Dec 19, 2025

The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application.

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Published on: June 12, 2009

A Modified Lean and Release Technique to Emphasize Response Inhibition and Action Selection in Reactive Balance

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Published on: February 28, 2025

Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Human Factors
Gerontology

Background:

Stairs are a common source of falls, particularly when step dimensions vary.
The precise biomechanical mechanisms linking inconsistent stair dimensions to increased fall risk remain largely theoretical.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally quantify the impact of inconsistent rise heights on biomechanical measures of stepping safety.
To compare these effects between younger and older adults.

Main Methods:

Experimental study involving younger and older adult participants.
Quantified foot clearance during ascent and foot contact length during descent on inconsistently higher steps.

Main Results:

Both age groups significantly decreased foot clearance (~9 mm) over higher steps during ascent.
Both groups reduced foot contact length by 3% on higher steps during descent.
Participants did not alter foot trajectories, suggesting a failure to detect or adjust to inconsistent rise heights.

Conclusions:

Inconsistent stair rise heights compromise stepping safety by reducing critical foot clearance and contact length.
The inability to adjust foot trajectories indicates a heightened risk of trips and overstepping, increasing fall likelihood.
Consistent stair construction is crucial; identifying and mitigating existing inconsistencies is vital for fall prevention.