@article {Wade:2014:0014-0139:66,
title = "Walking on ballast impacts balance",
journal = "Ergonomics",
parent_itemid = "infobike://tandf/terg",
publishercode ="tandf",
year = "2014",
volume = "57",
number = "1",
publication date ="2014-01-02T00:00:00",
pages = "66-73",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "0014-0139",
eissn = "1366-5847",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/terg/2014/00000057/00000001/art00007",
doi = "doi:10.1080/00140139.2013.863387",
keyword = "railroad, gait analysis, ballast, irregular terrain, kinetics",
author = "Wade, Chip and Garner, John C. and Redfern, Mark S. and Andres, Robert O.",
abstract = "Railroad workers often perform daily work activities on irregular surfaces, specifically on ballast rock. Previous research and injury epidemiology have suggested a relationship between working on irregular surfaces and postural instability. The purpose of this study was to examine
the impact of walking on ballast for an extended duration on standing balance. A total of 16 healthy adult males walked on a 7.62m \texttimes 4.57m (25 ft \texttimes 15 ft) walking surface of no ballast (NB) or covered with ballast (B) of an average rock size of about 1 inch
for 4h. Balance was evaluated using dynamic posturography with the NeuroCom	extregistered Equitest System prior to experiencing the NB or B surface and again every 30min during the 4h of ballast exposure. Dependent variables were the sway velocity and
root-mean-square (RMS) sway components in the mediallateral and anteriorposterior directions. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in RMS and sway velocity between ballast surface conditions and across exposure times. Overall, the ballast surface
condition induced greater sway in all of the dynamic posturography conditions. Walking on irregular surfaces for extended durations has a deleterious effect on balance compared to walking on a surface without ballast. These findings of changes in balance during ballast exposure suggest that
working on an irregular surface may impact postural control.",
}