This is an underwear type garment worn over underwear that has padding on the hips... sort of like football players pads. I am hoping that using them will help my siblings feel more comfortable regarding Moms fall risks.
More seriously - Depending on the actual bone density, you do have to weigh the risk of being less active versus the risk of falling. A few places have actual osteoporosis programs where a physical therapist can help with activity that is low impact and low risk and will promote better strength and balance too.
Safehips pads really do reduce injury risk, and they are lightweight; the main downside is that under clothes they could tend to make your hips look wider or fatter. Vanity versus safety...hmmm, hard to say which wins :-)
Cant give any advice am too busy laughing!! gosh is this whats ahead for us? im taking my bike out now im going to get so fit! bad enough im wearing tummy toners but this takes the biscuit!!
Wearing the padding would not reduce the risk of falling but could prevent the injury from being more serious such as a fracture. Osteoporosis is not the only cause of falling by the elderly. Older folks may have slowed reaction times, loss of muscle mass and strength, impaired vision, and medication side effects, all of which contribute to the risk of falling. It seems this padding could soften the impact and possibly prevent a fracture from occurring.
Yes, you want to try to reduce the fall opportunities as much as possible, but it can still happen. My mom fell in the grocery store a couple years ago. The fall was not caused by osteoporosis but by catching the edge of her shoe on a shopping cart and not being quick enough to adjust her weight. She slammed into the floor and broke her nose. The hip padding would not have helped her in this case, but a broken nose is not nearly as debilitating as a broken hip. She just refused to go out in public till all the bruising was gone.
The issue of falling is related to osteoporosis, which makes the bone break or fracture, THEN the person falls. Once they have fallen, call for help, but also know once a bone breaks, it immediately starts to "remodel" or repair itself. You can pad the body so when one falls they do not injure themselves anymore. If it will make you feel more secure, I see no harm in it if she will wear it. You cannot watch her 24/7.
I am not sure how wearing these prevents falls? It may minimize bruising, but the risks seem to be the same. Have you done other things in your mom's home to make it safer? Such as removed rugs, installed grab bars or keep the walkways free from clutter?
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Yes, you want to try to reduce the fall opportunities as much as possible, but it can still happen. My mom fell in the grocery store a couple years ago. The fall was not caused by osteoporosis but by catching the edge of her shoe on a shopping cart and not being quick enough to adjust her weight. She slammed into the floor and broke her nose. The hip padding would not have helped her in this case, but a broken nose is not nearly as debilitating as a broken hip. She just refused to go out in public till all the bruising was gone.