Mechanisms of Fall Resistance to Diverse Slipping Conditions

June 17, 2025 updated by: University of Nebraska
Falls are the leading source of injury for all ages, and for older adults are the primary cause of injury related death. Loss of foot to ground traction accounts for 25-40% of falls, typically referred to as a slip. Slips alter the relationship between center of mass and lower limb base of support resulting in altered whole-body angular momentum and inability to support body weight due to loss of stability. But not all slips lead to falls. Stability may be recovered through a combination of response movements, such as swinging the arms or rapid recovery steps. Stability must be recovered quickly otherwise insufficient bodyweight support rapidly leads to a damaging ground collision. A high percentage of falls result in fractures, contusions and sprains to both the trunk and limbs, while slips disproportionately cause lower back injuries. A primary goal of fall prevention training is to improve the ability to resist slips using perturbations that mimic the specific sensory and biomechanical context of natural slip events. However, generating lifelike slip perturbations that mimic the diversity of slipping conditions poses a significant hurdle to improving a more general slip resistance ability. Using movement analysis, the investigators will determine the relationships between diverse slip conditions, reactive responses to slips from those conditions, and slip vulnerability across the gait cycle to generate new data that may guide future interventions.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Recent evidence suggests most slip-related falls in daily life happen in diverse slipping conditions where the ground is not level, or the person is turning or changing direction. While slips that occur during straight walking on level ground and the responses to those slips are relatively well understood, very little is known about slips that occur while walking on slopes or curved paths and which reactive responses are effective to prevent falls in such conditions. This limits the ability of clinicians to incorporate a diverse range of slipping experiences into fall prevention interventions. Understanding how reactive responses and slip vulnerability depend on diverse slip conditions may guide future interventions that promote a more general fall resistance to the broader range of slips encountered in the real environment.

This project will determine the impact of turns and slopes on reactive movements and fall vulnerability by determining the effects of path curvature on reactive movements and slip vulnerability at different times in the gait cycle and determining the effects of ground slope on reactive movements and slip vulnerability at difference times in the gait cycle. It is hypothesized that diverse slipping conditions will change the reactive responses involving protective stepping and arm swing and that the distinct dynamics of turns and slopes produce maximum vulnerability to slips at different times in the gait cycle compared to slips during straight walking on level ground. To evaluate these aims, the investigators will administer slip perturbations on slopes that vary in both magnitude and direction, on curved paths that vary in curvature, and with slip onset that varies across early, middle, and late stance. Understanding the relationships between diverse slipping conditions, reactive responses, slip severity and fall vulnerability may guide future research and training interventions towards more comprehensive fall resistance ability.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
43

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Nebraska
      • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68182
        • Biomechanics Research Building

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

19 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 19-35

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Knee osteoarthritis
  • Vertigo
  • Meniere's disease
  • Chronic dizziness
  • History of back or lower extremity injury
  • Surgery that affects mobility
  • Neurological disease that limits the ability to walk

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Slips on Turns
Slips will be administered during walking on a curved paths of radii 1.0, or 2.0 meters in early, middle or late stance to the inside or outside foot.
Other: Slips on Turns
A slip will be administered to participants at 3 different times in the gait cycle for each of 3 different patch curvatures and 2 different legs for a total of 18 slip episodes. Slips will be delivered while walking along a straight path (infinite radius), or curved paths with radii 2, or 1 meters.
Experimental: Slips on Slopes
Slips will be administered during walking on sloped ground of 5.0 or 10.0 degrees mediolaterally or anteroposteriorly, or flat ground, in early middle or late stance. For mediolateral slopes, slips will be administered to the uphill or downhill foot.
Other: Slips on Slopes
Slips will be administered to participants at 3 different times in the gait cycle over sloped ground surface of no slope, ±5.0 and ±10.0 degrees slopes in the direction of walking, and 5.0 and 10.0 degrees perpendicular to the direction of walking. On slopes perpendicular to the direction of walking, slips will be administered to the uphill or downhill foot. A total of 27 slip episodes will be administered. Sloped walking surfaces will be generated with the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system treadmill.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fall Rates - Slips on Turns
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
Percentage of trials which result in a fall is recorded. Falls are classified when a load cell embedded in the harness system measures support forces exceeding 30% body weight.
Up to 4 hours
Fall Rates - Slips on Slopes
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
Percentage of trials which result in a fall is recorded. Falls are classified when a load cell embedded in the harness system measures support forces exceeding 30% body weight.
Up to 4 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Slipping Foot Distance
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
The distance travelled by the slipping foot relative to the center of mass following the administered slip perturbation
Up to 4 hours
Slipping Foot Maximum Velocity
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
The maximum velocity of the slipping foot relative to the center of mass following the administered slip perturbation
Up to 4 hours
Trunk Maximum Angular Momentum
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
The maximum angular momentum of the trunk following the administered slip perturbation
Up to 4 hours
Reactive Stepping Response Placement
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
Position of the placement of the reactive stepping response relative to the center of mass following the administered slip perturbation
Up to 4 hours
Reactive Stepping Response Time
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
Duration of time between the onset of the administered slip perturbation and the placement of the reactive stepping response
Up to 4 hours
Reactive Arm Swing Momentum Change
Time Frame: Up to 4 hours
The change in arm momentum between the onset of the administered slip perturbation and the end of the slip
Up to 4 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Nebraska

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Nathaniel H Hunt, PhD, University of Nebraska

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 15, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 16, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 16, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 27, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 27, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 29, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 4, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 17, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 0861-18-EP
  • 1R15AG063106 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data for all primary and secondary outcome measures will be made available.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will be available within 6 months of study completion.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data access requests should be emailed to the PI.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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