Padded geriatric headbands to mitigate fall injuries

Abstract

In response to information that more older Americans are dying from accidental falls, UMass Dartmouth researchers have addressed the problem by employing Flocked Impact Energy Absorbing (FEAM) materials to design special Wrap-Around Padded Headband (WAPH) garment structures. Such headband structures are intended for use by geriatric patients who might be vulnerable to falling. Overall, head-worn WAPHs should serve as head protection therefore mitigating any serious head injury that may occur during any such falling mishaps. The designed geriatric headbands feature a customizable, one-size-fits-all, linearly stretchable, wearer-comfortable design. Additionally, the particular wrap-around feature provides an overlap in headband over-wrap length such that some parts of the head perimeter (forehead or back-head) zone have a double thickness of the FEAM impact force material protection. Impact Force Absorbing (IFA) measurements carried out on FEAM employing headband material show that the IFA properties of the designed headband are superior in impact absorbing properties compared to non-IFA material containing stretchable fabric. As a means of determining how the designed WAPHs will absorb sweat, water immersion studies were carried out on some representative headband materials. The designed headbands should also be able to manage body heat. Self-wearing-trials of some WAPH prototypes demonstrated that they are very wearer comfortable. However, more experimental studies must be carried out to optimize the IFA properties of the FEAM element used in fabricating these WAPH garments.