Development of footwear for preventing falls due to induced slip based on tribology and biomechanics analysis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25420080
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Design engineering/Machine functional elements/Tribology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Takeshi 東北大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (50332515)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HOKKIRIGAWA Kazuo 東北大学, 大学院工学研究科, 教授 (60173605) ; SHIBATA Kei 東北大学, 大学院工学研究科, 助教 (60612398)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 転倒 / トライボロジー / バイオメカニクス / 靴 / すべり / 歩行分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed footwear that is effective in preventing falls due to induced slip in the lateral direction during turning. Turning gait trial on a slippery floor was conducted with healthy young adult participants wearing normal footwear and BOS (base of support) widened footwear. The results indicated that the BOS widened footwear, in which the BOS was widened more than 15 mm in the lateral direction, reduced the frequency of fall by more than 50% compared with the normal footwear. The kinematic analysis revealed that the BOS widened footwear shortened a length of compensatory stepping to prevent falling after slipping, which resulted in the reduced frequency of fall.

Free Research Field

トライボロジー