Effects of flooring on required coefficient of friction: Elderly adult vs. middle-aged adult barefoot gait

• Published in: Applied ergonomics Vol. 50; pp. 147 - 152
• Main Authors: Rozin Kleiner, Ana Francisca, Galli, Manuela, Araujo do Carmo, Aline, Barros, Ricardo M.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2015; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Age differences; Age Factors; Aged; Barefoot; Elderly; Feet; Female; Flooring; Floors and Floorcoverings - methods; Floors and Floorcoverings - standards; Foot - physiology; Friction; Friction - physiology; Gait; Gait - physiology; Gender differences; Human factors research; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Statistical analysis; Gait; Barefoot; Elderly
• ISSN: 0003-6870; 1872-9126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2015.02.010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of flooring on barefoot gait according to age and gender. Two groups of healthy subjects were analyzed: the elderly adult group (EA; 10 healthy subjects) and the middle-aged group (MA; 10 healthy subjects). Each participant was asked to walk at his or her preferred speed over two force plates on the following surfaces: 1) homogeneous vinyl (HOV), 2) carpet, 3) heterogeneous vinyl (HTV) and 4) mixed (in which the first half of the pathway was covered by HOV and the second by HTV). Two force plates (Kistler 9286BA) embedded in the data collection room floor measured the ground reaction forces and friction. The required coefficient of friction (RCOF) was analyzed. For the statistical analysis, a linear mixed-effects model for repeated measures was performed. During barefoot gait, there were differences in the RCOF among the flooring types during the heel contact and toe-off phases. Due to better plantar proprioception during barefoot gait, the EA and MA subjects were able to distinguish differences among the flooring types. Moreover, when the EA were compared with the MA subjects, differences could be observed in the RCOF during the toe-off phase, and gender differences in the RCOF could also be observed during the heel contact phase in barefoot gait.
•Barefoot gait on carpet revealed higher required coefficient of friction than vinyl flooring.•The results of the present study showed different behavior between EA and MA subjects with respect to RCOF.•Females presented higher RCOF values during heel contact.•Friction on barefoot gait is affected by flooring types, gender and age.•Carpet was the safer flooring in terms of required coefficient of friction.