Mimicking Slipping Responses Using a Novel Mechanical Perturbation Algorithm

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Gait, Perturbation

Gait, Stumbling

Treatments

Other: Mechanical pertubation

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT05890755

2023-00213

Details and patient eligibility

About

Healthy subjects will be invited to fill out a questionnaire regarding falls and balance skills followed by normal walking trials on a treadmill at 9 different speeds (0.28-1.4 m/s). Key gait parameters for the normative database will be collected. During the perturbation trials, the subjects will walk at a constant speed (1.2 m/s). The treadmill belts are ac, - or decelerated during the perturbations according to three different perturbation algorithms with varying perturbation onset. Movements will be analyzed by 3D motion capture, force plates, surface electromyography and IMU sensors. All methods are non-invasive and commonly used in the field of biomechanics.

Enrollment

43 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 80 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Healthy subjects aged 18-40 years and 60-80 years
Ability to walk at minimum 30 minutes at a regular pace without assistance or breaks
Written informed consent as documented by signature (see informed consent form)

Exclusion criteria

Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
Current neurological problems affecting walking function and balance
Current orthopedic problems affecting upper and lower extremity movements
History of alcohol abuse or the intake of psychotropic drugs
History of major cardiac condition (e.g., infarction, insufficiency (NYHA II-IV))
History of major pulmonary condition (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD II-IV))
Current major depression or psychosis
Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia
Fever of unknown origin