Could skydiving help the old avoid hip fractures?

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Skydiving might seem the worst possible thing to do if you want to avoid a hip fracture. But a new study shows elderly people who learn to land like a skydiver could slash their risk of a fracture by up to 70 per cent.

Experts at the University of Michigan who studied how the frail and elderly tumble when they break a hip found many 'stiffened' their whole body in preparation for impact.

This puts a huge amount of force on the hip joint, which for many people may already be weakened by osteoporosis.

The latest research found parachutists' method of rolling over reduced hip impact just as effectively whether someone has jumped from a plane or tripped on a kerb.

The technique involves crouching and leaning so that the outside of the leg hits the ground first and then the patient rolls on to their backside. This reduced the amount of force on the hip joint by 25 per cent.