IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i15p9327-d876183.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Effects of Pedestrian Environment on Ambulation with a Walking Frame in Elderly Individuals: A Survey and Experimental Study

Author

Listed:
  • Jiemeng Yang

    (School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    Key Laboratory of Human Motion Analysis and Rehabilitation Technology of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability, National Research Centre for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China)

  • Chen He

    (Laboratory of Architecture for Senior Citizen, China National Engineering Research Center for Human Settlements, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Zhongjun Mo

    (Key Laboratory of Human Motion Analysis and Rehabilitation Technology of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability, National Research Centre for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China)

  • Junchao Guo

    (Key Laboratory of Human Motion Analysis and Rehabilitation Technology of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability, National Research Centre for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China)

  • Run Ji

    (School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    Key Laboratory of Human Motion Analysis and Rehabilitation Technology of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability, National Research Centre for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China)

  • Yu Wang

    (Laboratory of Architecture for Senior Citizen, China National Engineering Research Center for Human Settlements, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Chunjing Tao

    (School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Yubo Fan

    (School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

Abstract

Understanding the effects of sloped roads in the pedestrian environment on the body during ambulation with a walking frame can help design friendlier living environments for elderly individuals. A survey of the characteristics of walking frames used in different pedestrian environments was investigated in five communities, and a controlled study of the effects of a sloped road on a subject with different walking frames was carried out as foundational research in the laboratory. A synchronous acquisition system consisting of a wireless motion capture module and a physiological information recording module was applied to collect data on the motion of the shoulder joint and skin conductance response (SCR) of fingers in one participant. Force data were collected from sensors placed on the four legs of the walking frame. The experimental data obtained during different tasks were quantitatively analyzed. Compared to flat ground, the shoulder joint rotated in the opposite direction in horizontal and internal/external planes when using a wheeled walking frame on an uphill road, and the supportive force decreased on both uphill and downhill roads. The range of motion of the shoulder joint reduced and the direction of the shoulder joint motion changed when using a footed walking frame on both uphill and downhill roads. Additionally, the peak value of the supportive force on the uphill road appeared in the first 50% of the gait cycle, which was earlier than in the other cases. In addition, walking on the uphill road with a walking frame had a maximum SCR value, which means a greater impact of psychological arousal. Biomechanics of the shoulder joint and psychological arousal are closely related to the ease of walking on a sloped road with a walking frame. These findings are beneficial for designing more appropriate environments for elderly individuals who walk with aids.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiemeng Yang & Chen He & Zhongjun Mo & Junchao Guo & Run Ji & Yu Wang & Chunjing Tao & Yubo Fan, 2022. "The Effects of Pedestrian Environment on Ambulation with a Walking Frame in Elderly Individuals: A Survey and Experimental Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9327-:d:876183
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/15/9327/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/15/9327/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Valkiria Amaya & Thibauld Moulaert & Luc Gwiazdzinski & Nicolas Vuillerme, 2022. "Assessing and Qualifying Neighborhood Walkability for Older Adults: Construction and Initial Testing of a Multivariate Spatial Accessibility Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Wennberg, Hanna & Hydén, Christer & Ståhl, Agneta, 2010. "Barrier-free outdoor environments: Older peoples' perceptions before and after implementation of legislative directives," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 464-474, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Iqbal Hamiduddin & Daniel Fitzpatrick & Rebekah Plueckhahn & Uurtsaikh Sangi & Enkhjin Batjargal & Erdenetsogt Sumiyasuren, 2021. "Social Sustainability and Ulaanbaatar’s ‘Ger Districts’: Access and Mobility Issues and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Valkiria Amaya & Matthias Chardon & Helen Klein & Thibauld Moulaert & Nicolas Vuillerme, 2022. "What Do We Know about the Use of the Walk-along Method to Identify the Perceived Neighborhood Environment Correlates of Walking Activity in Healthy Older Adults: Methodological Considerations Related ," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-37, September.
    3. Taylor, Zbigniew & Józefowicz, Iwona, 2012. "Intra-urban daily mobility of disabled people for recreational and leisure purposes," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 155-172.
    4. Letizia Appolloni & Daniela D’Alessandro, 2023. "Neighborhoods’ Walkability for Elderly People: An Italian Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Hallgrimsdottir, Berglind & Wennberg, Hanna & Svensson, Helena & Ståhl, Agneta, 2016. "Implementation of accessibility policy in municipal transport planning – Progression and regression in Sweden between 2004 and 2014," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 196-205.
    6. Aarhaug, Jørgen & Elvebakk, Beate, 2015. "The impact of Universally accessible public transport–a before and after study," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 143-150.
    7. Labbé, Delphine & Heider, Amy & Eisenberg, Yochai & Gould, Robert & Jones, Robin, 2024. "Reflection on the application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to a national policy to improve inclusion of people with disabilities," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    8. Vanessa Stjernborg, 2019. "Accessibility for All in Public Transport and the Overlooked (Social) Dimension—A Case Study of Stockholm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-16, September.
    9. Dominique Gillis & Ivana Semanjski & Dirk Lauwers, 2015. "How to Monitor Sustainable Mobility in Cities? Literature Review in the Frame of Creating a Set of Sustainable Mobility Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-30, December.
    10. Das, Priyanka & Maitra, Swati, 2024. "Priority areas of intervention for improving pedestrian infrastructure and facilities at tourist destinations in India," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 126-136.
    11. Hallgrimsdottir, Berglind & Svensson, Helena & Ståhl, Agneta, 2015. "Long term effects of an intervention in the outdoor environment—a comparison of older people’s perception in two residential areas, in one of which accessibility improvements were introduced," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 90-97.
    12. Márquez, Luis & Cantillo, Víctor & Arellana, Julián, 2014. "How are comfort and safety perceived by inland waterway transport passengers?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 46-52.
    13. Ståhl, Agneta & Horstmann, Vibeke & Iwarsson, Susanne, 2013. "A five-year follow-up among older people after an outdoor environment intervention," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 134-141.
    14. Yuxin Cao & Chye Kiang Heng & John Chye Fung, 2019. "Using Walk-Along Interviews to Identify Environmental Factors Influencing Older Adults’ Out-of-Home Behaviors in a High-Rise, High-Density Neighborhood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-22, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9327-:d:876183. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.