How does wearing slippers affect the movement strategy while crossing over an obstacle?

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Slippers may increase tripping risk due to dislodgement and contact with obstacles.
• The impact of slippers on obstacle-crossing movement strategies remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how wearing slippers affects the movement strategy during obstacle crossing.
• To analyze changes in stability and lower limb kinematics when crossing obstacles barefoot versus wearing slippers.

Main Methods:

• Thirty healthy young adults participated in obstacle crossing trials under barefoot and slippered conditions.
• Key measurements included margin of stability (MoS), toe clearance, and lower limb joint angles at critical obstacle crossing phases (OL, OT).

Main Results:

• Slippers led to increased toe clearance and hip/knee flexion, with significant ankle dorsiflexion at obstacle trail (OT).
• Margin of stability (MoS) increased at OT when wearing slippers, indicating a modified stability strategy.
• No significant change in MoS was observed at obstacle lead (OL) between conditions.

Conclusions:

• Increased MoS and toe clearance when wearing slippers suggest a conservative strategy to mitigate tripping risk.
• These adaptations are likely a response to the increased likelihood of slipper dislodgement.
• The findings indicate that slippers may not be suitable footwear for activities involving obstacle negotiation due to elevated tripping risks.