Gait Speed with Anti-Slip Devices on Icy Pedestrian Crossings Relate to Perceived Fall-Risk and Balance

Abstract

It is important to find criteria for preventive measures and appropriate assistive devices to reduce pedestrian injuries and increase walking in winter. Reducing the rate of falls on icy surfaces and improving people's ability to safely cross a street in winter conditions by achieving an adequate walking speed, for example, need to be considered. This study explores pedestrian perceptions of fall risk, balance, and footfall transitions while using different designs for anti-slip devices on ice and snow-covered ice and relates these to measures of gait speed and friction. Trials were performed with nine pedestrians testing 19 anti-slip devices on ice and ice covered with snow. Laboratory tests of the dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) on plain ice were also performed. The findings suggest that there was conformity in the participants' perceptions of good balance and low fall risk for one-fifth of the devices (three whole-foot designs and one design with built-in spikes). We also found that gait speed on icy pedestrian crossings is related to perceived fall-risk and balance control, but not to DCOF of the anti-slip devices.

Keywords: anti-slip device; classification; gait speed; pedestrian crossing; postural control; safety; winter conditions.

Figure 1

Examples of the main type models: (a) Forefoot device, #1; (b) heel device, # 4; (c) whole-foot device, #13; and (d) shoe with built in studs, #19.

Figure 2

The dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) measuring method.

Figure 3

Sketch of the test tracks.

Figure 4

(a) Perceptions of walking balance and (b) of risk of falling on an uncovered ice surface, respectively, with the 19 devices. Scale 0–100. Boxplot graph shows median values and upper and lower quartiles. Whiskers indicate variability outside the quartiles and outliers are plotted as individual points.

Figure 5

(a) Maximum gait speed (cm/sec) on uncovered ice in comparison to baseline speed (without the device), and (b) maximum gait speed on snow-covered ice.

Figure 6

Results of DCOF for the 19 anti-slip devices. Scale 0–1.00.