Background: Hip protectors, while effective in prevention of hip fractures, have been designed for a Caucasian body build and may not be suitable for Asian subjects living in a subtropical climate.
Objective: Hip protectors and accompanying shorts were specially designed for use for the Chinese body build and subtropical climate, and tested for compliance and efficacy in fracture prevention.
Method: A pragmatic study examining compliance with the wearing of hip protectors, and effectiveness in preventing hip fractures (using a case control design), in 302 subjects wearing hip protectors and 352 control subjects.
Results: Overall compliance varied from 55 to 70%. The relative risk for hip fracture was 0.18 (0.04–0.79), relative risk reduction 82%, and the number of subjects needing to wear a hip protector to prevent one fracture was 33 (19–117).
Conclusion: Hip protectors adapted for use in Chinese people appear to reduce hip fractures in routine clinical practice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Lauritzen JB, Peterson MM, Lund B. Effect of external hip protectors on hip fractures. Lancet1993; 341: 11–13.
2.
Villar MTA, Hill P, Inskip H, Thomson P, Cooper C. Will elderly rest home residents wear hip protectors?Age Ageing1998; 27: 195–198.
3.
Parkkari J, Heikkila J, Kannus P. Acceptability and compliance with wearing energy-shunting hip protectors: a 6-month prospective follow-up in a Finnish nursing home. Age Ageing1998; 27: 225–230.
4.
Yasumura S, Suzuki T, Yoshida H et al. Compliance concerning external protectors for hip fractures among the institutionalized elderly (in Japanese). Jpn J Geriatr1999; 36: 268–273.
5.
Kannus P, Parkkari J, Niemi S, Pasanen M, Jarvinen M, Vuori I. Prevention of hip fracture in elderly people with use of a hip protector. N Engl J Med2000; 343: 1506–1513.
6.
Parker MJ, Gillespie LD, Gillespie WJ. Hip protectors for preventing hip fractures in the elderly (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Oxford: Update Software, 1 May 1999.
7.
Cameron ID, Stafford B, Cumming RG et al. Hip protectors improve falls self-effi cacy. Age Ageing2000; 29: 57–62.
