There were no significant decreases in postural stability.Īn optimized horizontal–vertical visual illusion led to significant increases in foot clearance in older adults when ascending a staircase, but the effects did not destabilize their postural stability. The optimized illusion on the bottom and top stair led to a significant increase in foot clearance over the respective stair edge, compared to the control condition. Foot clearance and measures of postural stability were compared across conditions. These were compared to a control condition, which had a plain stair riser with edge highlighters positioned flush with each stair-tread edge. Fourteen older adults (mean age ± 1 SD, 68.5 ± 7.4 years) ascended a three-step staircase with the optimized version of the horizontal–vertical illusion (spatial frequency: 12 cycles per stair riser) positioned either on the bottom or top stair only, or on the bottom and top stair simultaneously. Preliminary experiments determined the optimum parameters for the horizontal–vertical illusion. We determined whether a horizontal–vertical illusion superimposed onto stairs to create an illusory perceived increase in stair-riser height would increase stair ascent foot clearance in older participants. A simple safety strategy to avoid tripping on stairs is increasing foot clearance. Falls on stairs are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly people.
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