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In 1989 two researchers Steven R. Cummings and Michael Nevitt developed a hypothesis to explain how a hip fractures, and confirmed this by further research. They proposed that for a hip to fracture several conditions had to be met:

• The fall must impact near the hip
  
• Protective responses fail to prevent the fall
  
• Soft tissue such as muscle and fat absorb less energy than is necessary to prevent the fracture
  
• The energy which enters the body is greater than the strength of the bone to withstand it.
  

Early research showed that women who suffered hip fractures were more likely to have fallen sideways or straight down and to have landed on or near the hip. In addition, among women who fell on their hip or hand, the risk of fracturing that site more than doubled for each standard deviation decrease in bone density at the site of fracture.

It is now known that hip fractures usually result from two interacting processes. A fall resulting in an impact onto the hip, and an underlying weakness in the bone caused by osteoporosis. While risk factors for falls and fractures have been studied, interventions designed to improve muscle and bone strength provide only partial protection. Hip Protectors are a powerful new method for reducing the risk of hip fracture by absorbing and deflecting impact energy which would normally break the hip. Older people, particularly those living in residential care who are frail, need this protection.

Consequences of Hip Fracture

Fact: Hip fractures cause disability by leg shortening and pain.

Fact: One quarter of those people who fracture their hip will die within the first 12 months from the fracture and it's complications, and 35% will die within 24 months.

Fact: Of those who survive, many older people are unable to function in daily life, and require long term nursing care.

Fact: Hip Fractures can be largely prevented by the use of Smarthips Hip Protective Garments.

Further reading

Steven R Cummings and Michael C Nevitt. A HYPOTHESIS: The Causes of Hip Fractures, Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 1989, Vol. 44, M107-111
Michael C Nevitt, Steven R Cummings. Type of Fall and Risk of Hip and Wrist Fractures: The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. J Am Geriatr Soc 1993, 41:1226-1234

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