Hip protection is important because accidental falls are a leading cause of hospitalization, injury deaths, and disabilities for seniors. Among women aged 65-74, hip fractures are the largest single kind of injury resulting from these falls, representing 35% of related hospitalizations. For women aged 85 and older, the hospitalization rate increases to 58%.

The most serious fall injury is hip fracture; one half of all older adults hospitalized for hip fracture never regain their former level of function. All too often, fractures trigger a downward spiral characterized by hospital-ization, depression, declining health, and reduced quality of life. In the case of many seniors, untimely death is the ultimate result of this injury. Published studies estimate that up to 50% of older women who experience a hip fracture do not survive the first year after the fracture, and another 20% do not regain the ability to walk unassisted.

Hip fractures are an expensive problem. A recent study documented that the cost of a hip fracture (including direct medical care, formal non-medical care, and informal care provided by family and friends) was $16,300-$18,700 during the first year following the injury. An even more important factor than the monetary cost of hip fracture is the injury's impact on a person's life in the form of loss of independence and decreased quality of life. Nationwide, only 50% of older adults hospital-ized for hip fracture are able to return home or live independently after the injury

It is believed that roughly 15% of hip fractures are spontaneous; most, however, are caused by a sharp impact to the hip area. Accidental falls are inevitable, but wearing Morning StarLight hip protectors will significantly reduce the likelihood of resultant fractures.

Risk factors for falls include increasing age, loss of sense of balance, muscle weakness, loss of muscle tissue, functional limitations, environmental hazards, use of psychoactive medications, and a history of falls. Age is also a risk factor for hip fracture. Women aged >85 years are nearly eight times more likely than women aged 65-74 years to be hospitalized for hip fracture. Those afflicted with dementia face additional risks.

Older persons, particularly women, are more likely than most adults to fracture their hip when they fall. One reason is osteoporosis which weakens the hip and leg bones. Also, older persons lose muscle and fat tissue that tends to provide "padding" for bones. Consequently, weakened bones are more exposed to hard surfaces and edges and therefore susceptible to injury from the impact of falls.
 
 

The primary causes of falls are the infirmities that are the consequences of onset of aging, which are often exacerbated by tripping hazards present in the living space. Tripping hazards, however, can be reduced with thoughtful of positioning of furniture and placement of aids for standing and walking. But, older adults are especially vulnerable when using the toilet, shower, or bath where surfaces are slippery and hard. Or while getting in and out of bed.

There are several medicines readily available that will arrest/reduce osteoporosis. Consult your primary care physician for more specific information. Even more important, hip protectors with sufficient "padding" can be worn to compensate for lost weight.

Many studies have shown that hip protection devices can significantly reduce incidence of fractures. Unfortunately, studies also show that hip protection pads are not widely used because they are considered either too expensive to acquire, too unattractive to wear, too difficult to install, or too cumbersome to wear. Morning StarLight hip protection overcomes all of these drawbacks.

Conventional hip protection devices are thin, hard plastic plates worn in pockets on the sides of panties. They are thin because of the notion that persons do not want to wear protection that is readily conspicuous. The plates are designed to be hard because of the assumption that the hard, inflexible plates can "shunt" (shunt means to redirect) the impact energy of a fall to areas surrounding the greater trochanter. However, many older persons do not have adequate tissue surrounding the greater trochanter nor do they have sufficient tissue between the trochanter and the likely point of impact of a fall. The hard plastic plate easily compresses the thin layer of tissue between the trochanter and the plate, in effect subjecting the point of the trochanter to nearly the full effect of the fall just as if the plate were not present. Little if any energy of the fall can be absorbed by the inadequate amount of tissue in the hip and leg.

The wish for hip protection that is not conspicuous and the need for protection that compensates for lost muscle tissue around the hips are not compatible. It’s a question of safety versus vanity.

The sketch illustrates the advantages of Morning StarLight's soft, flexible hip pads relative to the inherent drawbacks of a hard plate "pad".

Morning StarLight hip protectors are designed to absorb the energy of 150 pounds falling 30 inches. Each protector consist of hundreds of small, soft, plastic-walled cells filled with air. The cells are arrayed such that if the energy of a fall causes a cell to rupture for some reason, there are three to four redundant cells to absorb the impact. The cells are strong enough to insure that no bone is directly impacted by the surface upon which the wearer has fallen. The cells are sized to be in direct contact with all areas of the hip that are likely to be affected by a fall. In addition, the air-filled cells are also enclosed in a larger air cell, which provides a second level of protection. The thickness of Morning StarLight hip pad is slightly more than one inch.

A Morning StarLight hip protector weighs less than two ounces and has enough flexibility to be comfortably worn while lying, sitting, standing, or walking.

The hip protector is held in place by soft, elasticized bands. The bands are designed so that the hip protectors can be worn either over clothing or under clothing.

The protectors and bands are moisture proof and odor proof and easily cleaned. The hip protectors can be worn in the shower. The hip protectors can be worn while using the toilet.

The exhibits below show Morning StarLight hip protection pads worn while standing and while sitting. The protector on the left hip of the model is how it is worn over garments. The protector on the right hip of the model is how it is worn under garments.

To summarize the advantages of Morning StarLight hip protection pads:

Advantages of Functionality

• Can be worn either over garments or under garments
• Wearers can use toilet without removing hip protection
• Easily fitted to wearer
• Easily installed by wearer or care giver
• Fully adjustable for form and fit

• All materials are odor/moisture resistant
• Multiple layers of air shock impact absorbers for comfort and maximum safety
• All materials are soft, gentle to the skin and will not transmit impact of falls directly to the pelvis, femur, or trochanter
• All straps are slightly elasticized for fit and comfort

• No sharp edges or hard surfaces
• Protector and belts weigh less than two ounces
• Flexible enough for showering, walking, standing, sitting, lying, sleeping
• Can absorb energy of 200 pounds failing 30 inches
• Uniformly distributed maximum pressure on hip area after fall is less than 2 lb/in²
• Belt are resistant to removal by wearers with dementia

• In addition to being superior in function, construction, and design, Morning StarLight has the added advantage of being very inexpensive.
• Retail price for a complete set of hip protectors is $25.00.
• Set of extra elasticized waist belts and thigh belts is $12.50.
• In quantities of ten price is $17.50 per pair.
• In quantities of one hundred price is $13.75 per pair.

 

Morning StarLight makes no implied or express guarantee that its hip protection pads will prevent injury.  Please note that no hip protection products sold in the US have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the prevention of hip fractures.

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Extra Elastcized Waist Belts and Thigh Belts for $12.50 per Set
Price: $12.50

Hip Protection Pads, Package of 10 Pairs for $17.50 per Pair
Price: $175.00

Hip Protection Pads, Package of 100 Pairs for $13.75 per Pair
Price: $1,375.00

Canada Shipments Incremental Cost
Price: $15.00

International Shipments Incremental Cost
Price: $20.00

 
hip protection