Biomechanical Evaluation of Nosing Design on Stair Navigation in Healthy and Post-Stroke Older Adults

Abstract

Stair design can influence the risk of stair falls, with stair nosings intended to provide greater foot accommodation. However, to date little is known regarding the appropriate nosing shape to guide safer stair ambulation. This thesis investigates the impact of different nosing shapes (round, square, tapered, and no-nosing) on foot trajectory measures during stair navigation among healthy and post-stroke older adults. Less resultant foot clearance and greater foot overhang during descent highlighted the increased risk of falls on stairs in the post-stroke group. For both healthy and stroke participants, the tapered and round nosing shapes resulted in the largest horizontal foot clearance, and smallest foot overhang, respectively. However, with greater step-to-step variability detected with round nosings, the tapered nosing presents as the safest choice among all evaluated designs. The results of this work can be used to inform architectural and accessible design standards to create a safer built environment.