title: [Prospect and current research on hip protector].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the application and research status of the hip protector (HP) and to discuss the current problems and further research direction.
  
  
  METHODS
  HP related literature in recent years was reviewed and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biomechanics experiment studies have shown that HP could protect hip joint from fractures caused by falling, however, the protective effect of HP has not shown clinically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HP biomechanical experiments show better protective effect, which may be related with the lower impact energy; in clinical application, poor compliance of HP is considered as the main reason of weak protective effect.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Medical Biomechanical Key Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Guangdon, 510515, P R China.
authors.forename: Peidong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D011482:Protective Devices