Individual, task, and environmental influences on balance recovery: a narrative review of the literature and implications for preventing occupational falls
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-8-2019
Department
Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
Abstract
Balance recovery is a complex, multi-factorial task. When examining occupational environments for fall safety hazards, practitioners must be aware of how a worker’s ability to recover from balance loss and avoid a fall depends on their unique individual characteristics, the task they are performing, and their work environment. Balance recovery can be negatively affected by factors related to the individual (e.g., aging, obesity, arthritis, low back pain, fatigue, and peripheral neuropathies); the task (e.g., holding objects or performing multiple tasks); and the environment (e.g., slopes or stairs). Conversely, balance recovery can be enhanced by exposure to balance disturbances in the context of perturbation training, and by environmental design (e.g., appropriately-designed handrails). By understanding how individual, task, and environmental factors influence balance recovery and overall fall risk, occupational health and safety practitioners will be in a stronger position to design and implement safety controls to prevent occupational slips, trips, and falls.
Publication Title
IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors
Recommended Citation
Komisar, V.,
McIlroy, W. E.,
&
Duncan, C.
(2019).
Individual, task, and environmental influences on balance recovery: a narrative review of the literature and implications for preventing occupational falls.
IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors,
7(2), 91-118.
http://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2019.1634160
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/743
Publisher's Statement
© 2019 Taylor & Francis. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2019.1634160