Likelihood of injury from falls in different external and internal circumstances for young adults

Abstract: external and internal factors. The aim of this study is to answer the question of whether modifying external circumstances (falls at the same level versus falls from a height with feet down) and internal circumstances under the same laboratory conditions, in the sense that the coordination difficulty of subsequent tasks increases, influences the variation in the probability of damage to individual body parts? Seventy-one students (male and female) were observed. A simulated fall backwards on soft ground involved adopting as quickly as possible to a horizontal stance from a vertical stance after a GO command. The first test fall was preceded by the subject performing a deep squat several times with their own hands resting on the hands of the tester (pre-test). All students successfully completed the pre-test. During the second test fall at the same level, 35 students were required to clap their hands and press the sponge with their chin against their torso, while 36 preceded the fall with a 360° clockwise and anticlockwise rotation. During the simulated fall, the motor modification involved clapping the hands and pressing the sponge with the chin against the torso. Results: During a simulated fall backwards from a height with the feet down, the likelihood of damage to the legs and hips increases dramatically compared with a fall at the same level (from 8-14% to 69%). The applied motor modifications during the second and third test falls favour a reduction in hand errors in relation to the first task (right from 73% to 68% and 57%; left from 70% to 63%). Conclusions: the relationship of error reduction effects to lateralisation is possible. Thus, it is advisable to evaluate the phenomenon with a distinction of the dominant hand in subsequent studies.

Keywords: fall from height feet down, motoric simulation, pre-test

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006483

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