97950 University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.
7961 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, ON, Canada.
Hum Factors. 2023 Mar;65(2):200-211. doi: 10.1177/00187208211013631. Epub 2021 May 4.
To characterize the effect of handrail height and age on trunk and shoulder kinematics, and concomitant handrail forces, on balance recovery reactions during gait.
Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury in adults in North America. Handrails can significantly enhance balance recovery and help individuals to avoid falls, provided that their design allows users across the lifespan to reach and grasp the rail after balance loss, and control their trunk by applying hand-contact forces to the rail. However, the effect of handrail height and age on trunk and shoulder kinematics when recovering from perturbations during gait is unknown.
Fourteen younger and 13 older adults experienced balance loss (sudden platform translations) while walking beside a height-adjustable handrail. Handrail height was varied from 30 to 44 inches (76 to 112 cm). Trunk and shoulder kinematics were measured via 3D motion capture; applied handrail forces were collected from load cells mounted to the rail.
As handrail height increased (up to 42 inches/107 cm), peak trunk angular displacement and velocity generally decreased, while shoulder elevation angles during reaching and peak handrail forces did not differ significantly between 36 and 42 inches (91 and 107 cm). Age was associated with reduced peak trunk angular displacements, but did not affect applied handrail forces.
Higher handrails (up to 42 inches) may be advantageous for trunk control when recovering from destabilizations during gait.
Our results can inform building codes, workplace safety standards, and accessibility standards, for safer handrail design.
描述扶手高度和年龄对步态平衡恢复反应中躯干和肩部运动学的影响，以及伴随的扶手力。
在北美，跌倒是成年人意外伤害的主要原因。扶手可以显著增强平衡恢复能力，帮助个体避免跌倒，前提是扶手的设计允许不同年龄段的用户在失去平衡后够到并抓住扶手，并通过向扶手施加接触力来控制躯干。然而，扶手高度和年龄对步态中平衡恢复时躯干和肩部运动学的影响尚不清楚。
14 名年轻和 13 名年长的成年人在可调节高度的扶手旁行走时经历了平衡丧失（突然的平台平移）。扶手高度从 30 英寸（76 厘米）变化到 44 英寸（112 厘米）。躯干和肩部运动学通过三维运动捕捉测量；从安装在扶手上的测力传感器收集施加的扶手力。
随着扶手高度的增加（最高 42 英寸/107 厘米），躯干角位移和速度的峰值通常会降低，而在达到和达到峰值时肩部的抬高角度以及扶手力的峰值在 36 英寸和 42 英寸（91 和 107 厘米）之间没有显著差异。年龄与躯干角位移的峰值降低有关，但不影响施加的扶手力。
更高的扶手（最高 42 英寸）在步态中从失稳中恢复时可能有利于躯干控制。
我们的研究结果可以为更安全的扶手设计提供建筑规范、工作场所安全标准和无障碍标准方面的信息。
