@article{ref1,
title="Effect of fall characteristics on the severity of hip impact during a fall on the ground from standing height",
journal="Osteoporosis international",
year="2020",
author="Lim, K-t and Choi, W. J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="The magnitude of hip impact force during a fall on the ground (i.e., concrete surface) from standing height was determined. We found that this force decreases up to 59%, depending on how they land on the ground. <br><br>INTRODUCTION: We determined the magnitude of hip impact force that humans may experience in the event of a fall from standing height on the ground, in order to examine how the hip impact force was affected by characteristics of a fall. <br><br>METHODS: Twenty subjects mimicked a typical older adults' falls on a mat. Trials were acquired with three initial fall directions: forward, sideways, and backward. Trials were also acquired with three knee positions at the time of hip impact: knee together, knee on the mat, and free knee. During falls, attenuated vertical hip impact forces and corresponding depression of the mat were measured via a force plate placed under the mat and motion capture system, respectively. Using a mass-spring model, actual hip impact force and body stiffness during a fall on the ground were estimated. <br><br>RESULTS: Hip impact force averaged 4.0 kN (SD = 1.7). The hip impact force was associated with knee condition (F = 25.6, p < 0.005), but not with fall direction (F = 0.4, p = 0.599). Compared with &quot;knee on the mat,&quot; hip impact force averaged 59% and 45% greater in &quot;free knee&quot; and &quot;knee together,&quot; respectively (4.6 versus 2.9 kN, p < 0.005; 4.3 versus 2.9 kN, p < 0.005). However, the hip impact force did not differ between &quot;free knee&quot; and &quot;knee together (4.6 versus 4.3 kN, p = 0.554). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hip fracture risk during a fall decreases substantially, depending on how they land on the ground, informing the development of safe landing strategies to prevent fall-related hip fractures in older adults.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0937-941X",
doi="10.1007/s00198-020-05432-x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00198-020-05432-x"
}