Effects of Transitional Floor Surfaces and Visual Field Obstruction on Slips and Falls in the Elderly

Among older persons falls are the leading cause of death resulting from injury. The research was conducted to investigate the effects of transitional floor surfaces and visual field obstruction on gait mechanisms in the elderly. Ten college students and ten elderly individuals participated in the experiment. The results indicated that walking on transitional floor surfaces and carrying a light load changed the elderly individuals biomechanical parameters of gait mechanisms more significantly than their younger counterparts in terms of slip severity. The result implies that the types of floor material placed in the homes of elderly individuals and in public places should minimize transitional floor surfaces and the elderly individuals should be made aware of the danger of slipping even when carrying a light load.