Biomechanical strategies for mitigating unexpected slips: A review

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Fall Prevention Research

Background:

• Slips are a primary cause of falls, necessitating a deep understanding of human responses.
• Existing research has explored various aspects of slip-induced falls in controlled environments and through computational modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze human biomechanical responses to slips, encompassing kinetic, kinematic, spatiotemporal, and electromyography (EMG) variables.
• To review factors influencing slip recovery, such as age, fatigue, strength, perturbation intensity, and gait speed.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 41 studies on slip-induced falls.
• Analysis of biomechanical and muscular responses, including limb kinematics and muscle activation patterns (EMG).
• Examination of influencing factors on slip recovery mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Slip recovery involves specific limb movements: hip extension and knee flexion, followed by hip flexion and knee extension.
• Medial hamstring muscles are crucial for hip extension/knee flexion in the slipping limb and foot placement in the trailing limb.
• Successful recoveries correlate with co-contraction of Tibialis Anterior (TA) and Medial Gastrocnemius (MG) for ankle stability.

Conclusions:

• Age, perturbation intensity, gait speed, fatigue, and strength significantly influence biomechanical and muscular responses to slips.
• Findings support the development of advanced fall prevention interventions and technologies.
• Further research into the interplay of biomechanics, muscle activation, and environmental factors is recommended for improved strategies.