A single-spring model predicts the majority of variance in impact force during a fall onto the outstretched hand.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Elsevier Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0157375 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-2380 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00219290 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Biomech Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: New York ; Oxford : Elsevier Science
    • Subject Terms:
      Accidental Falls* ; Models, Biological*; Arm/*physiology ; Hand/*physiology ; Wrist/*physiology; Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Radius Fractures ; Young Adult
    • Abstract:
      The objective of this study was to validate a single-spring model in predicting measured impact forces during an outstretched arm falling scenario. Using an integrated force plate, impact forces were assessed from 10 young adults (5 males; 5 females), falling from planted knees onto outstretched arms, from a random order of drop heights: 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm. A single-spring model incorporating body mass, drop height plus the estimated linear stiffness of the upper extremity (hand, wrist and arm) was used to predict impact force on the hand. We used an analysis of variance linearity test to test the validity of using a linear stiffness coefficient in the model. We used linear regression to assess variance (R 2 ) in experimental impact force predicted by the single-spring model. We derived optimum linear stiffness coefficients for male, female and sex-combined. Our results indicated that the association between experimental and predicted impact forces was linear (P < 0.05). Explain variance in experimental impact force was R 2  = 0.82 for sex-combined, R 2  = 0.88 for males and R 2  = 0.84 for females. Optimum stiffness coefficients were 7436 N/m for sex-combined, 8989 N/m for males and 4527 N/m for females. In conclusion, a linear spring coefficient used in the single-spring model proved valid for predicting impact forces from fall heights up to 25 cm. Results also suggest the use of sex-specific spring coefficients when estimating impact force using the single-spring model. This model may improve impact force to bone strength ratios (factor-of-risk) and prediction of forearm and wrist fracture.
      (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Forward fall; Impact force; Outstretched hand; Prediction; Single-spring model (SSM)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20190518 Date Completed: 20200710 Latest Revision: 20200710
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.04.042
    • Accession Number:
      31097189