Influence of Floor Covering Composition on Force Attenuation during Falls, Wheelchair Mobility, and Slip Resistance

The older adult (65+ years old) population faces various risks when performing activities of daily living. Individuals capable of walking are susceptible to falling or slipping, and individuals that ambulate using a manual wheelchair have a high incidence of upper extremity injuries and are susceptible to falls during transfers. These leading causes of injury are inherent to the aging population and their elimination might be unattainable; however, a reduction in injury would be expected if floor compositions could reduce slipping hazards, impact forces, and rolling resistance.