Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street

Thies, SB; Kenney, LPJ; Howard, D; Nester, CJ; Ormerod, M; Newton, R; Baker, RD; Faruk, M; Maclennan, HA

Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street Thumbnail


Authors

CJ Nester

M Ormerod

R Newton

RD Baker

M Faruk

HA Maclennan



Abstract

In light of our ageing population it is important that the urban environment is easily accessible and hence supports older adults’ independence. Tactile ‘blister’ paving was originally designed to provide guidance for visually impaired people at pedestrian crossings. However, as research links irregular surfaces to falls in older adults, such paving may have an adverse effect on older people. We investigated the effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait in a scenario closely resembling “crossing the street”. Gait analysis of 32 healthy older adults showed that tactile, as compared to smooth, paving increases the variability in timing of foot placement by 20%, thereby indicating a disturbance of the rhythmic gait pattern. Moreover, toe-clearance during the swing phase increased by 7% on tactile paving, and the ability to stop upon cue from the traffic light was compromised. These results need to be viewed under consideration of the limitations associated with laboratory studies and real world analysis is needed to fully understand their implications for urban design.

Citation

Thies, S., Kenney, L., Howard, D., Nester, C., Ormerod, M., Newton, R., …Maclennan, H. (2011). Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street. Journal of Biomechanics, 44(8), 1599-1604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.016

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Apr 11, 2011
Publication Date Apr 11, 2011
Deposit Date Jan 4, 2011
Publicly Available Date Apr 5, 2016
Journal Journal of Biomechanics
Print ISSN 0021-9290
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 44
Issue 8
Pages 1599-1604
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.016
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.016
Related Public URLs http://www.jbiomech.com/

Files






You might also like



Downloadable Citations