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Huang Q, Zhou Z, Kleiven S. Effectiveness of energy absorbing floors in reducing hip fractures risk among elderly women during sideways falls. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2024; 157:106659. [PMID: 39029349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Falls among the elderly cause a huge number of hip fractures worldwide. Energy absorbing floors (EAFs) represent a promising strategy to decrease impact force and hip fracture risk during falls. Femoral neck force is an effective predictor of hip injury. However, the biomechanical effectiveness of EAFs in terms of mitigating femoral neck force remains largely unknown. To address this, a whole-body computational model representing a small-size elderly woman with a biofidelic representation of the soft tissue near the hip region was employed in this study, to measure the attenuation in femoral neck force provided by four commercially available EAFs (Igelkott, Kradal, SmartCells, and OmniSports). The body was positioned with the highest hip force with a -10∘ trunk angle and +10∘ anterior pelvis rotation. At a pelvis impact velocity of 3 m/s, the peak force attenuation provided by four EAFs ranged from 5% to 19%. The risk of hip fractures also demonstrates a similar attenuation range. The results also exhibited that floors had more energy transferred to their internal energy demonstrated greater force attenuation during sideways falls. By comparing the biomechanical effectiveness of existing EAFs, these results can improve the floor design that offers better protection performance in high-fall-risk environments for the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Huang
- Division of Neuronic Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Division of Neuronic Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Svein Kleiven
- Division of Neuronic Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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Murakami S, Zhao Y, Mizuno K, Yamada M, Yokoyama Y, Yamada Y, Jinzaki M. Finite element analysis of hip fracture risk in elderly female: The effects of soft tissue shape, fall direction, and interventions. J Biomech 2024; 172:112199. [PMID: 38959821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of fall configurations on hip fracture risk with a focus on pelvic soft tissue shape. This was done by employing a whole-body finite element (FE) model. Soft tissue thickness around the pelvis was measured using a standing CT system, revealing a trend of increased trochanteric soft tissue thickness with higher BMI and younger age. In the lateroposterior region from the greater trochanter, the soft tissues of elderly females were thin with a concave shape. Based on the THUMS 5F model, an elderly female FE model with a low BMI was developed by morphing the soft tissue shape around the pelvis based on the CT data. FE simulation results indicated that the lateroposterior fall led to a higher femoral neck force for the elderly female model compared to the lateral fall. One reason may be related to the thin soft tissue of the pelvis in the lateroposterior region. Additionally, the effectiveness of interventions that can help mitigating hip fractures in lateroposterior falls on the thigh-hip and hip region was assessed using the elderly female model. The attenuation rate of the femoral neck force by the hip protector was close to zero in the thigh-hip fall and high in the hip fall, whereas the attenuation rate of the compliant floor was high in both falls. This study highlights age-related changes in the soft tissue shape of the pelvis in females, particularly in the lateroposterior regions, which may influence force mitigation for the hip joint during lateroposterior falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotaro Murakami
- Nagoya University, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuqing Zhao
- Nagoya University, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Koji Mizuno
- Nagoya University, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Minoru Yamada
- Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichi Yokoyama
- Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitake Yamada
- Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Jinzaki
- Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Levine I, Pretty SP, Mourtzakis M, Laing AC. Force magnitude and distribution during impacts to the hip are affected differentially by body size and body composition. J Biomech 2024; 172:112213. [PMID: 38968649 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Hip fractures are a severe health concern among older adults. While anthropometric factors have been shown to influence hip fracture risk, the low fidelity of common body composition metrics (e.g. body mass index) reduces our ability to infer underlying mechanisms. While simulation approaches can be used to explore how body composition influences impact dynamics, there is value in experimental data with human volunteers to support the advancement of computational modeling efforts. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to use a novel combination of subject-specific clinical imaging and laboratory-based impact paradigms to assess potential relationships between high-fidelity body composition and impact dynamics metrics (including load magnitude and distribution and pelvis deflection) during sideways falls on the hip in human volunteers. Nineteen females (<35 years) participated. Body composition was assessed via DXA and ultrasound. Participants underwent low-energy (but clinically relevant) sideways falls on the hip during which impact kinetics (total peak force, contract area, peak pressure) and pelvis deformation were measured. Pearson correlations assessed potential relationships between body composition and impact characteristics. Peak force was more strongly correlated with total mass (r = 0.712) and lean mass indices (r = 0.510-0.713) than fat mass indices (r = 0.401-0.592). Peak deflection was positively correlated with indices of adiposity (all r > 0.7), but not of lean mass. Contact area and peak pressure were positively and negatively associated, respectively, with indices of adiposity (all r > 0.49). Trochanteric soft tissue thickness predicted 59 % of the variance in both variables, and was the single strongest correlate with peak pressure. In five-of-eight comparisons, hip-local (vs. whole body) anthropometrics were more highly associated with impact dynamics. In summary, fall-related impact dynamics were strongly associated with body composition, providing support for subject-specific lateral pelvis load prediction models that incorporate soft tissue characteristics. Integrating soft and skeletal tissue properties may have important implications for improving the biomechanical effectiveness of engineering-based protective products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Levine
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; The Kite Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN, 5500 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2A2, Canada
| | - Steven P Pretty
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marina Mourtzakis
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew C Laing
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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Da Q, Xiao Y, Wu F, Chen Y, Li L. Does hip protector prevent falls and hip fractures? An umbrella review of meta-analyses. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:514. [PMID: 38867191 PMCID: PMC11170778 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05122-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wearing hip protectors is a measure used to prevent hip fractures caused by falls. However, its protective effect has remained controversial in previous studies. This study provides a rationale for the use of hip protectors by pooling all the current meta-analysis evidence. METHODS We conducted an umbrella review of all the current meta-analysis articles about the efficacy of hip protectors to reduce hip fractures and falls in communities and/or institutions. Major databases including EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PubMed and Web of Science, were searched up to June 2022. Two reviewers screened the studies, extracted the data, and conducted the methodological quality assessment independently. The primary outcome was the association statistic (odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR), etc.) reported in the meta-analysis that quantified the influence of the intervention on hip fractures and falls compared to that of the control group. Narrative synthesis was also conducted. Forest plots and the AMSTAR score were used to describe the results and quality of the pooled literature, respectively. RESULTS A total of six meta-analysis articles were included in the study. Hip protectors were effective at reducing hip fractures in older individuals who were in institutions (nursing or residential care settings) but not in communities (RR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.85, I2 = 42%, P < 0.001) (RR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.34, I2 = 0%, P = 0.20), and they did not reduce falls (RR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.13, I2 = 0%, P = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS Hip protectors are effective at preventing hip fractures in institutionalized older adults but not in community-dwelling older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study has been registered in PROSPERO (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022351773).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingchen Da
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Yingheng Xiao
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Feng Wu
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Yueliang Chen
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Liping Li
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China.
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China.
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Honda H, Ashizawa R, Kameyama Y, Hirase T, Arizono S, Yoshimoto Y. Chronic pain in older adults with disabilities is associated with fall-related injuries: a prospective cohort study. Eur Geriatr Med 2024:10.1007/s41999-024-00965-4. [PMID: 38512605 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-024-00965-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous studies have shown an association between chronic pain and the occurrence of falls in community-dwelling older adults; however, the association between chronic pain and fall-related injuries in older adults with disabilities is unclear. This study aimed to determine the association between chronic pain and fall-related injuries in older adults with disabilities. METHODS This 24-month prospective cohort study included older adults aged 65 years or older using Japanese long-term care insurance services. Chronic pain, defined as "pain that has persisted for more than three months to date," was assessed using a face-to-face questionnaire. Fall-related injuries, defined as "injuries requiring hospitalization or outpatient treatment due to a fall," were assessed using a fall calendar. Data were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model, with fall-related injury as the dependent variable, chronic pain as the independent variable, and confounders as covariates. RESULTS Among 133 included participants, 15 experienced fall-related injuries. After adjusting for age and sex as covariates, chronic pain was significantly associated with fall-related injuries (hazard ratio: 5.487, 95% confidence interval: 1.211-24.853, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS Chronic pain was associated with fall-related injuries in older adults with disabilities. In this population, a greater focus should be placed on treating chronic pain to reduce the occurrence of falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroya Honda
- Division of Rehabilitation Science, Seirei Christopher University Graduate School, 3453 Mikatahara-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka, 433-8558, Japan.
| | - Ryota Ashizawa
- Department of Rehabilitation, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yuto Kameyama
- Division of Rehabilitation Science, Seirei Christopher University Graduate School, 3453 Mikatahara-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka, 433-8558, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Hirase
- Division of Physical Therapy Science, Graduate Course of Health and Social Work, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Shinichi Arizono
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Seirei Christopher University, Hamamtsu, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Yoshimoto
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Seirei Christopher University, Hamamtsu, Japan
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Awal R, Faisal T. QCT-based 3D finite element modeling to assess patient-specific hip fracture risk and risk factors. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2024; 150:106299. [PMID: 38088011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Early assessment of hip fracture risk may play a critical role in designing preventive mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of hip fracture in geriatric people. The loading direction, clinical, and morphological variables play a vital role in hip fracture. Analyzing the effects of these variables helps predict fractures risk more accurately; thereby suggesting the critical variable that needs to be considered. Hence, this work considered the fall postures by varying the loading direction on the coronal plane (α) and on the transverse plane (β) along with the clinical variables-age, sex, weight, and bone mineral density, and morphological variables-femoral neck axis length, femoral neck width, femoral neck angle, and true moment arm. The strain distribution obtained via finite element analysis (FEA) shows that the angle of adduction (α) during a fall increases the risk of fracture at the greater trochanter and femoral neck, whereas with an increased angle of rotation (β) during the fall, the FRI increases by ∼1.35 folds. The statistical analysis of clinical, morphological, and loading variables (αandβ) delineates that the consideration of only one variable is not enough to realistically predict the possibility of fracture as the correlation between individual variables and FRI is less than 0.1, even though they are shown to be significant (p<0.01). On the contrary, the correlation (R2=0.48) increases as all variables are considered, suggesting the need for considering different variables fork predicting FRI. However, the effect of each variable is different. While loading, clinical, and morphological variables are considered together, the loading direction on transverse plane (β) has high significance, and the anatomical variabilities have no significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabina Awal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | - Tanvir Faisal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA.
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Kleiven S, Sahandifar P. Upright trunk and lateral or slight anterior rotation of the pelvis cause the highest proximal femur forces during sideways falls. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1065548. [PMID: 36619387 PMCID: PMC9816430 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1065548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-body models are historically developed for traffic injury prevention, and they are positioned accordingly in the standing or sitting configuration representing pedestrian or occupant postures. Those configurations are appropriate for vehicle accidents or pedestrian-vehicle accidents; however, they are uncommon body posture during a fall accident to the ground. This study aims to investigate the influence of trunk and pelvis angles on the proximal femur forces during sideways falls. For this purpose, a previously developed whole-body model was positioned into different fall configurations varying the trunk and pelvis angles. The trunk angle was varied in steps of 10° from 10 to 80°, and the pelvis rotation was changed every 5° from -20° (rotation toward posterior) to +20° (rotation toward anterior). The simulations were performed on a medium-size male (177 cm, 76 kg) and a small-size female (156 cm, 55 kg), representative for elderly men and women, respectively. The results demonstrated that the highest proximal femur force measured on the femoral head was reached when either male or female model had a 10-degree trunk angle and +10° anterior pelvis rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svein Kleiven
- Neuronic Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden,*Correspondence: Svein Kleiven,
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Fleps I, Morgan EF. A Review of CT-Based Fracture Risk Assessment with Finite Element Modeling and Machine Learning. Curr Osteoporos Rep 2022; 20:309-319. [PMID: 36048316 PMCID: PMC10941185 DOI: 10.1007/s11914-022-00743-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We reviewed advances over the past 3 years in assessment of fracture risk based on CT scans, considering methods that use finite element models, machine learning, or a combination of both. RECENT FINDINGS Several studies have demonstrated that CT-based assessment of fracture risk, using finite element modeling or biomarkers derived from machine learning, is equivalent to currently used clinical tools. Phantomless calibration of CT scans for bone mineral density enables accurate measurements from routinely taken scans. This opportunistic use of CT scans for fracture risk assessment is facilitated by high-quality automated segmentation with deep learning, enabling workflows that do not require user intervention. Modeling of more realistic and diverse loading conditions, as well as improved modeling of fracture mechanisms, has shown promise to enhance our understanding of fracture processes and improve the assessment of fracture risk beyond the performance of current clinical tools. CT-based screening for fracture risk is effective and, by analyzing scans that were taken for other indications, could be used to expand the pool of people screened, therefore improving fracture prevention. Finite element modeling and machine learning both provide valuable tools for fracture risk assessment. Future approaches should focus on including more loading-related aspects of fracture risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingmar Fleps
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, USA.
| | - Elise F Morgan
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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