Effect of torso curvature and hip stiffness on head impact severity during backward falls with a falling dummy

We developed and used a “falling dummy” to explore how¶ backward fall dynamics affect head impact severity. We¶ varied torso shape and hip stiffness, based on observations¶ from video-captured real-life falls in older adults. Peak linear¶ and angular head accelerations were higher with rotating¶ hips than with fixed hips. Torso shape did not affect linear¶ acceleration, while angular acceleration was higher with the¶ flat torso than with the curved torso.