Treated knitted fabric for hip-protective pads for elderly women, part I: force attenuation capacity

Abstract

This paper describes a study of hip-protective pads made from warp-knitted spacer fabric treated with shear thickening fluid (STF). Hip fractures, mostly caused by falls, are a substantial contributor to morbidity and mortality in the elderly, and incidence is rising worldwide. Hip-protective pads reduce fractures, but wearing adherence is poor. Protective pads made from breathable and comfortable fabrics can improve adherence and prevent more hip fractures. In this research, warp-knitted spacer fabrics were treated with STF using different methods. Treatment 1 involved STF and room-temperature vulcanizing silicone, while treatment 2 applied STF and tetraisopropyl titanate. The effects on force attenuation capacity of each treatment method, the amount of STF used, and fabric layering were measured using drop impact tests. Treated knitted spacer fabric had significantly higher force attenuation capacity than untreated knitted spacer fabric. Impact forces decreased as the number of layers increased and as STF concentrations rose. Treatments 1 and 2 produced fabrics with force attenuation capacity similar to that of closed-cell foam.

Treated knitted fabric for hip protective pads for elderly women. Part II. Performance relevant to thermal comfort

“…Polyurethane closed cell foam that claimed to be suitable for impact protective pad by the manufacturer was selected for comparison. Warp-knitted spacer fabrics were treated with either STF and room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone (treatment I, in three combinations) or STF and a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and tetraisopropyl titanate (treatment II, in three combinations – see Part I 1 for details). P1, P2, and P3 were the pad treated with treatment 1, while Pad A, Pad B, and Pad C were the pad treated with treatment II.…”

“…The causes, costs, and epidemiology of hip fractures were covered in Part I of this paper. 1 One method of preventing hip fractures in elderly people at high risk of falling is to use hip protective garments. 2 Hip protective garments consist of protective pads, either hard (plastic or resin) shields or soft (closed cell foam) pads to be placed bilaterally on the hip to cover the greater trochanter, attached to a protective garment.…”

“…As outlined in Part I, 1 acceptance of and adherence to wearing hip protective garments by elderly people is low. Even among the highly selected group of individuals who initially find the idea of wearing hip protective garments acceptable, adherence declined rapidly after initiation in most studies.…”

“…As described in Part I, 1 spacer fabric and shear thickening fluid (STF) are materials that hold promise for hip protective pads in terms of their protective and comfort properties. The research outlined in this paper (Part II of our study) aimed to determine the comfort performance (thermal resistance, evaporative resistance, and mass) of protective pads made of warp-knitted spacer fabric impregnated with STF.…”

Medical textiles

“…Many people stop wearing hip protectors because they find them uncomfortable and impractical [602]. That said, there are recent publications investigating methods of protecting the hips that may lend themselves to clever design, improved comfort and fit and higher levels of acceptance [603][604][605][606].…”