ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The properties of support surfaces such as flooring, ramps, sidewalks, and outdoor ground have a dramatic impact on a person’s fall risk. For example, floor surface properties that can lead to falls are insufficient friction with shoes, resulting in a slip; uneven surfaces causing the toe to collide with the ground during the swing phase of gait and leading to a trip; and the compliance of a floor surface impacting an individual’s balance. This chapter specifically focuses on current research to describe the effects of walkway surfaces on slip and trip risk as well as injury risk after a fall.
