Hi Phil,

I recently enquired for the KPH Hip Protector. Pekka Kannus has done
research around this subject. I will paste their answer back.
I also did some search to sites about falls. Here are a few links:

What are you working on??

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/living/dailynews/elderly_falls990526.html
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000401/2159.html
http://www.aafp.org/afp/971101ap/steinweg.html
http://www.tenmag.com/TEN400_PP.html
http://www.mmhc.com/nhm/articles/NHM9805/Steinberg.html
http://www.rehabpub.com/features/672000/4.asp
http://cwhweb.mcmaster.ca/planning/fallsrvw.htm
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/Organizations/DDIL/benzo.html
http://www.pmr.vcu.edu/presentations/dcifu/hipfract/
http://www.daemen.edu/departments/pa/SeniorProjects/Class%20of%201999/Hip%20
Fracture%20in%20Elderly.html
http://www.hindso.suite.dk/phdsumm.htm
http://www.hindso.suite.dk/hipprot.htm
http://www.ascp.com/public/pubs/tcp/1998/jun/r_r.shtml


From: "Pekka Kannus" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
        [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 15:55:37 +0000
Subject: (Fwd) (Fwd) Hip protector study
CC: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
Priority: normal
X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (v3.12b)

Dear colleagues:

Thank you for your recent mail concerning your interest in the 
KPH Hip Protector.  Our patented KPH Hip Protector 
has shown to have excellent force attenuation capacity 
(Kannus et al. Bone 1999;25:229-235) and good user compliance 
(Parkkari et al. Age & Ageing 1998;27:225-229).  The technical 
details of the KPH can be found from the scientific publications 
mentioned below.  
   So far our KPH Hip Protector is the only device which has 
successfully gone through both the biomechanical testings and 
clinical trials, the results being published in international peer-
reviewed scientific journals.  So let me shortly introduce the history 
of our protector and please note the original scientific publications 
of this protector.  
   We started to study our KPH Hip Protector by examining the  
injury mechanisms of the hip fractures (Parkkari et al. Calcif  
Tissue Int 1999;65:183-187) and determining and comparing  
the biomechanical efficacy of various hip paddings (Parkkari et  
al. J Bone Miner Res 1994;9:1391-1396) and our shield-type  
protector in vitro (Parkkari et al. J Bone Miner  
Res1995;10:1437-1442, Kannus et al. Bone 1999;25:229- 
235) and in vivo (Parkkari et al. Calcif Tissue Int 1997;60:354- 
357).  We found that in terms of force attenuation in a fall  
situation the firm construction of the KPH Hip Protector is  
superior to various paddings or weaker and flatter shield-type  
devices, and therefore, we concluded that the anatomically 
designed energy-shunting and energy-absorbing KPH Hip Protector 
provides an effective impact force attenuation in a sideways-fall 
situation of the older adults and thus a sound basis for clinical studies. 
   We have also assessed the clinical acceptability and user  
compliance of the protector among Finnish nursing home  
residents (Parkkari et al. Age & Ageing 1998;27:225-229) and  
found that 63% of the eligible residents agreed to use the  
protector and they used it rather well during the prospective 6- 
month follow-up (over 90% of their active days were covered  
by the protector).    
   The above noted basic studies with the KPH Hip Protector   
have been summarized in the academic thesis of my student Dr.  
Jari Parkkari (copies are available if needed).  
   All these results were so encouraging that we started a large  
randomized clinical trial (N = 1801) with this protector in Finnish 
elderly persons in 1996 and now this trial has been finished and 
the results published (Kannus et al. N Engl J Med 2000;343:
1506-1513).  The trial showed that the KPH Hip Protector was 
indeed effective in reducing the risk of hip fracture - both on 
intentio-to-treat basis (60% risk reduction in the hip-protector 
group, as compared with the control group) and especially on 
efficacy or active treament basis (over 80% risk reduction in the 
hip-protector group if the KPH Hip Protector was worn at the time 
of a fall versus the situation where the hips of these people were not 
protected during the fall).
   The off-the-self unit price in Finland is 490 FIM (about 85 USD), 
including the pants and the two shields, but naturally the price is 
clearly lower if larger amounts are ordered.  In larger amounts postal 
delivery to all countries is possible. 
   Elina Saari from the Respecta Inc. (previously known by the name 
The Orthopaedic Service of the Finnish Red Cross) is the contact 
person in any protector-related practical issue.  
Her contact address is: 

Elina Saari 
Respecta Inc.,
Lenkkeilijänkatu 6,
FIN-35200 Tampere,
Finland 

tel:  +358-3-3397-9564 or 
       +358-3-3397-9550
fax:  + 358-3-3397-9599 
Email: [log in to unmask] 


We look forward to hearing your opinion on the 
KPH Hip Protector.


Sincerely, 

Pekka Kannus, MD, PhD 
Chief Physician & Head 
Accident & Trauma Research Center 
UKK Institute 
P.O.Box 30 
FIN-33501 Tampere 
Finland 

Tel. + 358-3-282-9336 
Fax. + 358-3-282-9200 
Email: [log in to unmask] 




**************************************************

Pekka Kannus, MD, PhD
Chief Physician & Head
Accident & Trauma Research Center
UKK Institute
Kaupinpuistonkatu 1
FIN-33500 Tampere
Finland

tel. +358-3-282 9336
fax. +358-3-282 9200
Email: [log in to unmask]

**************************************************



At 08:57 PM 1/22/01 EST, you wrote:
>hello,
> I'm wondering if anyone knows where hip pads to prevent fractures can be
>purchased. I know I recently saw an ad in one magazine or another but can't
>seem to put my finger on it.
>thanks
>Phil Goetz
>Rochester, NY
>