Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-3-2011

Abstract

Falls on the outstretched hands are the cause of over 90% of wrist fractures, yet little is known about bone loading during this event. We tested how the magnitude and distribution of pressure over the palm region during a forward fall is affected by foam padding (simulating a glove) and arm configuration, and by the faller’s body mass index (BMI) and thickness of soft tissues over the palm region.

Thirteen young women with high (n=7) or low (n=6) BMI participated in a “torso release experiment” that simulated falling on both outstretched hands with the arm inclined either at 20° or 40° from the vertical. Trials were acquired with and without a 5 mm thick foam pad secured to the palm. Outcome variables were the magnitude and location of peak pressure (d, θ) with respect to the scaphoid, total impact force, and integrated force applied to three concentric areas, including “danger zone” of 2.5 cm radius centered at the scaphoid. Soft tissue thickness over the palm was measured by ultrasound.

The 5 mm foam pad reduced peak pressure, and peak force to the danger zone, by 83% and 13%, respectively. Peak pressure was 77% higher in high BMI when compared with low BMI participants. Soft tissue thickness over the palm correlated positively with distance (d) (R=0.79, p=0.001) and force applied outside the danger zone (R=0.76, p=0.002), but did not correlate with BMI (R=0.43, p=0.14). The location of peak pressure was shunted 4 mm further from the scaphoid at 20° than that of 40° falls (d=25 mm (SD 8), θ= −9° (SD 17) in the 20° falls versus d=21 mm (SD 8), θ= −5° (SD 24) in the 40° falls). Peak force to the entire palm was 11% greater in 20° compared with 40° falls.

These results indicate that even a 5 mm thick foam layer protects against wrist injury, by attenuating peak pressure over the palm during forward falls. Increased soft tissue thickness shunts force away from the scaphoid. However, soft tissue thickness is not predicted by BMI, and peak pressures are greater in high individuals than that of low BMI individuals. These results contribute to our understanding of the mechanics and prevention of wrist and hand injuries during falls.

Comments

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Biomechanics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Biomechanics, volume 44, issue 3, in 2011. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.09.011

The Creative Commons license below applies only to this version of the article.

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

Elsevier

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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