AIIMS launches 'SAATHI' lab to protect elderly from hip fracture

New Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) orthopedic department established a lab and developed a training program for the senior citizen to protect them from having a hip fracture.

Doctors at AIIMS introduced "Save the Hip Initiative" in which eight weeks training program scheduled to give expert guidance to the senior citizens.

The 'SAATHI' (Save the Hip Initiative) lab was inaugurated by Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS, which will study and recognise the risk of falling of the elderly and also teach them the ability to balance their body. "The purpose is to save elderly from falling, as well as protecting their hip fractures," said expert.

The expert also said that during the old age, human body becomes weak, which makes it difficult to handle and balance, hence, the biggest reason for hip fracture among the elderly is a sudden loss of motor function in their legs.

Keeping all these things in mind, the expert has developed a special lab, SAATHI.

Dr Rajesh Malhotra, Head, Orthopedic Department, AIIMS informed that there are many reasons for sudden loss of motor function in a human body. During the old age, under the influence of medicines for their geriatric ailments, low eye vision, and neuro-related disorders are among the few of the reasons for sudden fall while walking.

"Once in a year, at least 50 per cent of patients over 80 years loss their motor function and among of these around 20 per cent need to hospitalised," he added.

Due to this, around 10 per cent elderly incurred fracture and seldom, they received brain injuries.

Around a dozen of machines and equipment have been installed into this lab, which will study and examine the risk of falling of the elderly and also be treated, he added.