A novel methodological approach for inducing slips, trips and pelvic pulls during treadmill walking

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics and Robotics
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Falls are a major cause of injury in the elderly and individuals with mobility impairments.
• Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) improves balance recovery but lacks real-world transferability.
• Diverse training paradigms are needed to address various fall-inducing situations like slips, trips, and bumps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of the PACE-R (Passive Active CablE Robot) system for emulating multiple balance perturbation modalities.
• To assess the system's ability to replicate realistic fall-inducing perturbations during treadmill walking.
• To evaluate the potential of PACE-R to enhance PBT accessibility and effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the modular, cable-based PACE-R system to apply perturbations (slips, trips, pelvis pulls) during treadmill walking.
• Collected kinematic data (joint angles, COP, GRF) to analyze responses to perturbations.
• Assessed the system's transparency and ability to decouple passively when not applying force.

Main Results:

• Each perturbation type (slips, trips, bumps) elicited distinct kinematic and kinetic responses.
• The observed responses closely matched existing literature on fall-inducing events.
• The PACE-R system demonstrated capability in emulating diverse, realistic balance perturbations.

Conclusions:

• The PACE-R module is a feasible and effective tool for simulating multiple balance perturbation modalities.
• This system could serve as a versatile replacement for multiple training devices, enhancing PBT accessibility.
• The technology holds potential for improving reactive balance responses and reducing fall rates in at-risk populations.