Green phases at traffic lights for people with arthritis too short

More and more people with arthritis are getting into social isolation

Especially when older people want to cross the street at a traffic light, the so-called green phase is usually just barely enough. It is particularly problematic for people with arthritis. Researchers now found that people with arthritis do not manage to cross the street during the green phase. As a result, those affected no longer travel voluntarily in our cities and thus get further and further into social isolation.

The scientists at the Glasgow Caledonian University found in their current research that patients with arthritis and also generally older people often have problems crossing the street in time during the green phase of traffic lights. As a result, sufferers feel embarrassed and uncomfortable and increasingly isolated, says Professor Steultjens of Glasgow Caledonian University. The problem has been identified as part of the preparation of a large-scale, ongoing study to improve posture, balance and stability for people with rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers now published a press release on the first results of their investigation.

Of course, older people do not move as fast as in their youth. If there are still diseases such as arthritis, it will be harder for those affected to cross the street during the green phase of a traffic light. For many of these people, such moments are so uncomfortable and embarrassing that they leave home less and less often. This can lead to social isolation. (Image: Sondem / fotolia.com)

What is the goal of the ongoing study?

The experts examined a new treatment for walking problems in people with arthritis, referred to as gait rehabilitation. This type of treatment has so far been proven especially in patients with mobility problems resulting from neurological impairments.

The green traffic light phases are too short

In previous arthritis studies, the participants often dealt with everyday problems. Many people with arthritis feel insecure and embarrassed that they can not cross the street fast enough during the green traffic light phase, the experts explain. For many people, this goes so far as to live in social isolation. Such people simply do not want to leave the house, and one of the main reasons are almost too short green traffic light phases, the scientists say.

Many older women have problems crossing the street during a green phase

The expert Professor Steultjens researches the bio-mechanics of arthritis at the Glasgow Caledonian University School of Health and Life Sciences. Together with colleagues, he now presents an update of the results so far. "The normal green phase in which pedestrians can cross the road requires that a person be able to move at a speed of 1.2 m / s," says Steultjens. Other studies have already shown that 85 percent of older women (over the age of 65) can not move at this speed.

Cities have to adapt to the aging population

A change in the length of the green phase at the traffic lights could have a massive impact on the lives of many people and even have an effect on increasing social isolation, explain the physicians. It is still relatively unknown that so many people have problems with the timely crossing of the road. Perhaps the time is right for cities to pay more attention to the aging population and those with walking difficulties, the researchers conclude.

The full study will be published in 2022

The overall results of the ongoing study are expected to be published in 2022. Besides Glasgow Caledonian University, Keele University, King's College London and Salford University are also involved in the study. (As)