The reduced lighting environment impacts gait characteristics during walking

- The reduced illumination is one of the factors that lead to slips, trips and falls accidents in underground workers.
- The decreased stride length/time, double support time, the increased gait variability of stride length and stance time were observed.
- Proper lighting equipment can be crucial to minimizing gait alterations and fall-related accidents in workers in a reduced lighting environment.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate how different light intensities affect human gait patterns during walking. Humans rely on visual information from the surroundings to mediate foot placement and maintain balance during walking. The reduction of light, which diminishes visual input, is recognized as a contributing factor in the incidence of falling; however, such impact on gait characteristics has not been identified yet at different constrained levels of light intensities.MethodsTwelve healthy adults were instructed to walk at their self-selected pace on a treadmill either in high or low lighting conditions. The light intensity during treadmill walking was reduced using a pair of goggles attached to different layers of window films. Three-dimensional spatiotemporal gait data were collected using a motion capture system.ResultsThe significantly decreased stride length, stride time, double support time, and the significantly increased gait variability of stride length and stance time, were presented in the reduced lighting condition.ConclusionsOverall, this study indicates that the lighting intensity impacts gait adjustments during walking. Underground workers navigating in a dim and constrained environment could alter their walking patterns that relate to falling accidents.Relevance to industrySlips, trips and falls are common accidents occurred in underground workers which correlate to the insufficient lighting condition. This study investigated the impact of different lighting conditions on gait adjustment which contributes to the safety of workers situating in a reduced lighting environment.