• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.233-239
• /
• 2003

Falling related injuries are categorized as the most serious and common medical problems experienced by the elderly, hip joint fracture, one of the most serious consequences of falling in the elderly, occurs in only about 1% of falling. Nevertheless, hip fracture accounts for a considerable part of the disability, death, and medical costs associated with falling. In this study, we considered the impact angle and displacement rate in falling as another factor affecting femoral strength. Using a fresh-frozen human femur, we developed system to simulate the falling condition and then conducted the experiments changing the impact angle (0$^{\circ}$, 15$^{\circ}$, 30$^{\circ}$) of proximal femur. Also, in order to analyze the relative risk due to falling to normal situation in proximal femur, we did the static test simulating the two-legged stance condition. The results showed that the change in impact angle affected the strain distribution in proximal femur, and that a large deformation in femoral neck than in other sites. Furthermore despite low impact velocity, a large deformation in proximal femur occurred in the impact test and different strain distribution was observed compare to the static case.