Methods to reproduce stumbles and slips during walking
Evaluating Methods to Replicate Stumbles and Slips During Walking
This project tests three ways to create unexpected slips and stumbles during walking to compare responses in people who use a unilateral lower‑limb prosthesis and able‑bodied adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Össur Iceland ehf Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 2 sites (Reykjavik and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07175714 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants will be split into two groups—regular unilateral prosthesis users and able‑bodied adults—and will complete controlled walking tests in a laboratory setting. Up to three perturbation methods (mechanical, visual, or auditory) will be used to mimic unexpected obstacles or sudden changes in terrain, with the number of methods per participant limited by time and fatigue. Researchers will apply these perturbations in a controlled sequence while monitoring participants' balance recovery and gait responses. Safety precautions and rest breaks will be provided to minimize risk and fatigue during testing.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older who can walk independently without a cane or walker and who are either able‑bodied or regular unilateral lower‑limb prosthesis users for at least one year, weighing between 40 and 136 kg and able to follow study instructions, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with conditions that affect mobility or balance (including painful conditions, major musculoskeletal or neurological disorders), those using balance‑impairing medications, pregnant people, or those who require assistive walking devices are unlikely to benefit and are excluded for safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help improve fall‑prevention training and prosthetic design to reduce real‑world stumbles and falls.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory studies using slip, trip, or sensory perturbations have produced useful insights into balance recovery, though prosthesis‑specific comparisons remain less common.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 40 kg \< body weight \< 136kg * Cognitive ability to understand all instructions and questionnaires in the study * Willing and able to participate in the study and following the protocol * Age ≥ 18 years * Able to walk independently without the use of assistive device such as a cane or walker * Able-bodied subjects OR Regular prosthesis users for at least 1 year with unilateral lower limb amputation at or below the transfemoral level (or equivalent level limb deficiency) Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects with pain which can affect their mobility * Users with socket comfort score less than 7 * Subjects with cognitive impairment * Pregnant subjects * Musculoskeletal disorders or neurological conditions that affect motor function, gait or balance * Use of medications that are known to impair balance and coordination * Any other conditions deemed by the investigator to make participation unsafe
Where this trial is running
Reykjavik and 1 other locations
- University of Iceland — Reykjavik, Iceland (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Össur Iceland ehf. — Reykjavik, Iceland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Thor Fridriksson, Doctor — Össur Iceland ehf
- Study coordinator: Laurine Roussillon, Master
- Email: lroussillon@ossur.com
- Phone: +3548221812
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.