A novel wearable device to deliver unconstrained, unpredictable slip perturbations during gait.

Only six healthy young adults were tested, so the results do not show what would happen in patients with balance problems or fall risk. The study was done in a laboratory with a ceiling-mounted safety harness and an eight-meter walkway, so it may not fit ordinary clinic spaces. The release delay varied, with an average of 0.482 ± 0.181 seconds, so the intended slip timing was not reliably achieved. 14 trials released during swing phase and did not cause a perturbation, and 25 trials were excluded because no slip could be distinguished. Recovery step data were missing for 9 of the 33 trials. Wearing the device significantly changed gait speed, stride length, and stride width, so it was not identical to normal walking. Participants rated slip severity low and realism only moderate, so the slips may not have fully matched real-world slips. No clinical patient outcome or training benefit was reported.

The supplied text does not include a conflict-of-interest or funding statement. The article is tagged as supported by NIH extramural research.

Do not conclude that this device improves fall recovery or is safe for patients. It was tested in six healthy young adults in a laboratory with a safety harness, and the paper reports no clinical training outcome or fall-prevention effect.