Measurement and Strategies for Dynamic Stability During Locomotion on a Slippery Surface

Slipping during various kinds of movement often leads to potentially dangerous incidents of falling. The purpose of this paper was to review some of the research performed in the field including such topics as rating scales for balance, kinematics and kinetics of slipping, adaptation to slippery conditions, postural and balance control, and protective movement during falling. Controlling slipping and fall injuries requires a multifaceted approach. Environmental conditions (state of floor surface, tidiness, lighting, etc), work task (walking, carrying, pushing, lifting, etc), and human behavior (anticipation of hazards, adaptation to risks, risk taking, etc) must be accounted for in the assessment of slip and fall-related risks. Future directions of research must deal with modeling of basic tribophysical, biomechanical, and postural control process involved in slipping and falling.