大腿骨頸部転倒骨折予防のためのヒッププロテクタに関する生体力学的検討 : 動的有限要素解析による衝撃シミュレーション(<小特集>福祉におけるシミュレーション技術の活用)  [in Japanese] Biomechanical Evaluation of Hip Protectors to Prevent Hip Fracture : Impact simulation by dynamic finite element analyses(Special Features on Applications of Simulation Methods to Welfare-Purpose Technology)  [in Japanese]

Hip protectors are expected to be one of the most effective methods to prevent hip fracture among the elderly. In this review, we report the simulation results of dynamic finite element analyses to elucidate the mechanism of hip fracture prevention by hip protectors. Firstly, the construction of an elderly Japanese female model of the whole body is discussed. Finite element models of femur and soft tissue of thigh were incorporated into the whole body rigid model. Seven types of protector pads were modeled, and the simulations of fall were carried out. The results of the simulations showed that a hollow structure pad was effective for fracture prevention, and that the mechanism of fracture prevention is not only the attenuation of impact by hip pad, but also the reduction of load on the greater trochanter due to load distribution to the surrounding soft tissue.