Mechanical Evaluation of the Impact Force Moderating Effect of Hip Protectors

Abstract

This study compared the mechanical properties of hip protectors currently marketed. We measured impact force using a pendulum type impact testing system which imitates the force that the hip encounters in an actual fall. Moreover, we calculated the dynamic viscoelasticity and impact force absorptivity of the material for each frequency response using the elastic loss modulus, elastic storage modulus and tan δ. We found that soft hip protectors provided excellent impact force attenuation and hard hip protectors had excellent impact force dispersion capacity.