SURFACE STIFFNESS AFFECTS IMPACT FORCE DURING A FALL ON THE OUTSTRETCHED HAND

Falls on the outstretched hand are among the most common causes of tra umatic bone fracture. However, little is known regarding the biomechan ical factors that affect the risk for injury during these events. In t he present study, we explored how upper-extremity impact forces during forward falls are affected by modification of surface stiffness, an i ntervention applicable to high-risk environments such as nursing homes , playgrounds, and gymnasiums. Results from both experimental and line ar biomechanical models suggest that during a fall onto an infinitely stiff surface, hand contact force is governed by a high-frequency tran sient (having an associated peak force F-max1), followed by a low-freq uency oscillation (having an associated lower magnitude peak force F-m ax2). Practical decreases in surface stiffness attenuate F-max1 but no t F-max2 or the magnitude of force transmitted to the shoulder. Model simulations reveal that this arises from the compliant surface's abili ty to decrease the velocity across the wrist damping elements at the m oment of impact (which governs F-max1) but inability to substantially reduce the peak deflection of the shoulder spring (which governs F-max 2). Comparison between model predictions and previous data on fracture force suggests that feasible compliant surface designs may prevent wr ist injuries during falls from standing height or lower, because F-max 1 will be attenuated and F-max2 will remain below injurious levels. Ho wever, such surfaces cannot prevent F-max2 from exceeding injurious le vels during falls from greater heights and therefore likely provide li ttle protection against upper-extremity injuries in these cases.