Prediction of Stability during Walking at Simulated Ship's Rolling Motion Using Accelerometers

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Naval Medicine
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Ship motion poses significant risks of falls and injuries due to instability.
• Maintaining balance and dynamic stability while walking in unstable environments is critical.
• Center of Mass (COM) control and Margin of Stability (MOS) are key indicators of balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop predictive models for balance control and walking stability on ships.
• To estimate peak Center of Mass (COM) excursion and Margin of Stability (MOS) variability.
• To assess and mitigate the risk of balance loss in maritime environments.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 30 healthy individuals for the study.
• Participants walked for two minutes at self-selected speeds.
• A Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system simulated ship roll motion, with accelerometers used for data collection.

Main Results:

• The developed models successfully predicted peak COM excursion.
• The models accurately predicted MOS variability during simulated ship motion.
• Validated the use of accelerometers for assessing dynamic balance on unstable platforms.

Conclusions:

• Predictive models can effectively assess balance control and stability in walking on ships.
• This research can enhance safety measures for seafarers and passengers.
• Early risk assessment of balance loss can prevent accidents and injuries at sea.