Innovative methods to study postural stability and fall initiation

Advances in measurement techniques and precision instrumentation, control strategies, and computational intelligence, coupled with an increased understanding of psychophysical testing methods and of the role of attention, have led to innovative methods for studying postural stability and the possible mechanisms for fall initiation. In this symposium lecture, we review some recent psychophysical findings that were made possible by our innovative Sliding Linear Investigative Platform For Assessing Lower Limb Stability (SLIP-FALLS), that uses air-bearings to produce ultra-low vibration linear translations. SLIP-FALLS has been designed to study the detection and discrimination thresholds of humans to uniaxial horizontal step, ramp or sinusoidal translations of the surface upon which they stand or stride. The device also can be used to test the human potential for, and mechanisms of, slips and falls. The usefulness of having precise control over movement parameters is discussed.