The recent study of Holzer et al. described the results of mechanical testing of different
hip protectors according to the The European Standard testing method for motorcyclists’
protective clothing (EN 1621-1).
[1]
They concluded that soft hip protectors of the “energy-absorbing” type (especially
their own AHIP protector and Astrosorb protector) were superior to hard hip protectors
of the “energy-shunting” type in reducing impact force. However, the testing system
employed by Holzer et al. is unsuitable for measuring and comparing the force reduction
provided by various types of hip protectors, and therefore the conclusions of Holzer
et al. are biased and misleading.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- Mechanical testing of different hip protectors according to a European Standard.Injury. 2009; (doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.02.005)
- Comparison of force attenuation properties of four different hip protectors under simulated falling conditions in the elderly: an in vitro biomechanical study.Bone. 1999; 25: 229-235
- Prevention of hip fracture in elderly people with use of a hip protector.N Engl J Med. 2000; 343: 1506-1513
- External hip protectors are effective for the elderly with higher-than-average risk factors for hip fractures.Osteoporosis Int. 2009; (Jan 10: Epubl ahead of print)
- The force attenuation provided by hip protectors depends on impact velocity, pelvic size, and soft tissue stiffness.ASME J Biomech Eng. 2008; 130 (061005 (9 pages))
- Effect of external hip protectors on hip fractures.Lancet. 1993; 341: 11-13
- Energy-shunting external hip protector attenuates the peak femoral impact force below the theoretical fracture threshold: an in vitro biomechanical study under falling conditions of the elderly.J Bone Miner Res. 1995; 10: 1437-1442
- Impact experiments of an external hip protector in young volunteers.Calcif Tissue Int. 1997; 60: 354-357
- Majority of hip fractures occur as a result of a fall and impact on the greater trochanter of the femur: a prospective controlled hip fracture study with 206 consecutive patients.Calcif Tissue Int. 1999; 65: 183-187
Robinovitch SN, Evans SL, Minns J, et al. Hip protectors: recommendations for biomechanical testing—an international consensus statement. Osteoporosis Int, in press.
- Biomechanical comparison of hard and soft hip protectors, and the influence of soft tissue.Bone. 2006; 39: 401-407
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© 2009 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
