Hip protectors can be very useful with patients/residents who are prone to falls and fall injuries.

• Designed to absorb and disperse the impact of a fall on the hip bone, which helps to reduce the risk of hip fracture. In essence, hip protectors act as shock absorbers around the hip providing a cushion between the hip bone and impact surface.

How to use a hip protector:

The best use of a hip protector is in those patients/residents who are at the greatest risk of hip fracture. These include patients/residents with:

• History of injury following a fall
• History of osteoporosis and multiple falls
• Balance impairment
• Diseases (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, etc.) associated with balance loss and hip fracture risk
• Medications associated with balance loss and falls (e.g., narcotics, sedatives or antidepressants, etc.)
• Seizure disorder
• Frequent nocturia (i.e., nighttime toileting)
• Dementia with agitated behaviors
• Fear of falling and/or injury (i.e., hip protectors offer psychological benefits; wearers feel more confident in completing tasks safely and, as a result, became more physically active, and require less assistance with activities of daily living.

Written by Rein Tideiksaar, PhD