Wearing hip pads
can be one preventive method. According to one clinical trials for wearing hip pads in
nursing home, relative risk for hip fractures in nursing home residents wearing protective
hip pads was 0.41 for 1 year( to prevent one hip fracture) (Lauritzen, 1993) However, it
may not be well compliant due to aesthetics or inconvenience. Mobility
aids may keep the person active. They provide initial short-term benefits to get the
person active. Beneficial activity may increase strength, flexibility, and self-confidence
that the individual may decrease time using the device. However recommendation for
assistant devices need to be carefully made.
Risks for long-term use include a possible decrease in abdominal and back
extensor strength because of weight bearing on the assistant device. Also, assistant
devices can be risk itself when cognition limits a person's ability to use them properly.