Published 4 November 2026
Quick answer: hip protectors are pants or shorts with padded shields over the outer hips. In care homes they slightly reduce hip fractures. The Cochrane review found about 11 fewer hip fractures per 1,000 residents. For older people living at home, the same review found little or no effect. The main problem is that people stop wearing them: the review says long-term adherence “was poor”. If you buy them, choose a pair the wearer will put on every day, buy enough to wash, and fit them by hip measurement.
Figures on this page were read on 4 November 2026 from the Cochrane review and from the makers’ and retailers’ pages named below.
Do hip protectors work?
The best evidence is the Cochrane review “Hip protectors for preventing hip fractures in older people” (Santesso and others, published 31 March 2014). It pooled 19 trials with about 17,000 people, with average ages of 78 to 86. Its findings, as Cochrane summarises them:
| Outcome | What the review found |
|---|---|
| Hip fractures, care home residents | A “small reduction” (risk ratio 0.82): 11 fewer people per 1,000 had a hip fracture, with a range from 20 fewer to none |
| Hip fractures, people living at home | “Little or no effect”: 2 more people per 1,000, with a range from 2 fewer to 6 more |
| Pelvic fractures | May slightly increase: 1 more person per 1,000 |
| Falls | “Probably little to no effect” (rate ratio 1.02) |
| Side effects | Uncommon, mainly skin irritation, reported in 0% to 5% of wearers |
| Wearing them | Adherence, “particularly in the long term, was poor” |
Two points follow from this. Hip protectors do not stop falls. They only spread the force of a fall that lands on the side of the hip. And they only help on the days they are worn. A protector left in a drawer protects nobody, which is why fit, comfort and washing matter more than which brand you buy.
The review’s searches ran to December 2012.
Who are they for?
On the evidence above, the clearest case is someone living in a care home who has fallen before and is likely to fall again. For someone living at home, the review does not show a benefit, so look first at what reduces falls: a falls assessment through the GP, a home hazard check, and the right walking aid. Our fall detection guide covers getting help quickly after a fall, which is a separate problem from preventing the fracture.
If someone who lives at home wants to wear them, there is no reason in the review not to. Side effects were uncommon. Just be realistic about what they do.
Soft or hard shields
Hip protectors come in two broad types:
- Soft shields are flexible pads, often sewn into the pants. Tytex describes the Safehip AirX shield as “soft, strong and flexible” and shaped to “disperse energy from a fall away from the hip joint”. Win Health says HipSaver pads are “permanently sewn-in”.
- Hard shields are rigid shells. Some sit in pockets and come out for washing; check the maker’s instructions.
Neither maker page we read names a test standard. Tytex says its shields are “biomechanically tested”, and Win Health says HipSaver is “proven effective in clinical trials”, without giving the study details on the product page.
Sizing
Size by the widest part of the hips, not by dress or trouser size. Mobility Smart lists these hip measurements for the Safehip AirX Unisex:
| Size | Hip measurement |
|---|---|
| Small | 75 to 95 cm (30 to 38 inches) |
| Medium | 90 to 110 cm (36 to 44 inches) |
| Large | 100 to 120 cm (40 to 48 inches) |
| Extra large | 110 to 140 cm (44 to 56 inches) |
The sizes overlap. If the wearer is between two, try both if you can: too loose and the shield slides off the hip bone, too tight and they will not keep wearing it. Other makers size differently, so always use the chart for the product you are buying.
Washing, and how many to buy
Tytex and Living Made Easy both say the Safehip AirX can be washed at up to 95°C and tumble dried at the highest temperatures, which suits care home laundries. Check the label on other brands before a hot wash, especially those with foam or plastic shields.
Because they are worn as underwear, one pair is not enough. Plan for enough pairs to cover the days between washes, and more if the wearer has continence problems. Our guide to incontinence aids covers pads that can be worn with them.
How much do hip protectors cost?
Mobility Smart listed the Safehip AirX Unisex at £74.18 including VAT, or from £61.82 with VAT relief, when we read it on 4 November 2026. Living Made Easy lists the Safehip range as price on application, and Win Health does not publish HipSaver prices online. Hip protectors bought for a disabled person’s own use may qualify for VAT relief; our guide to VAT relief on mobility equipment explains who qualifies.
Hip protectors on Amazon UK
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy through the box below, at no extra cost to you. No maker paid to appear here.
These are the Safehip models we found on Amazon UK. We chose them because their maker, Tytex, publishes product pages we could check. Tytex says the AirX garments can be washed at up to 95°C. The Safehip Active is different: it is a belt with soft PE foam shields, worn over normal clothing, which Tytex says is “designed for hospitalized patients or long-term care residents” and should be washed “at or below 40°C”. That matters in a care home laundry that runs everything hot.
Amazon sells most of these by size, so check the size in the listing title against the hip chart above before you order. The prices in the box are live from Amazon. Amazon does not apply VAT relief, so if the wearer qualifies, a specialist retailer may be cheaper: Mobility Smart listed the AirX Unisex at £61.82 with VAT relief on 4 November 2026.
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAFEHIP AirX Unisex Hip Protector Undergarment - Fall Prevention Hip Support for Elderly - Senior Safety - No Fall Fear by TYTEX (Medium, White) | £89.71 |
|
| SAFEHIP AirX Women's Hip Protector Undergarment, Medium 36-44 inches | Fall Injury Prevention Hip Support, For Elderly Seniors, Breathable, Skin-Friendly and Comfortable, BY TYTEX | £64.00 |
|
| SAFEHIP AirX Men's Hip Protector Briefs, Large 40-48 inches | Fall Injury Prevention, Hip Support for Elderly Seniors, Breathable, Skin-Friendly and Comfortable | £80.31 |
|
| Safehip Active Hip Protector Belt with Foam Shields, Fall Protection Garment for Elderly and Rehabilitation, Breathable AirX Fabric, Unisex | £119.70 |
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (paid link)
We left out two kinds of product that come up in the same Amazon search: padded sports and snowboarding shorts, whose listings describe them as protection for snowboarding and skating, and unbranded hip protector pants whose sellers publish no maker documents for us to check.
Getting them to stay on
The Cochrane authors call for more work on the “personal and design factors” behind acceptance, because that is where hip protectors fail. Practical steps that make wearing them more likely:
- Fit them properly first. A protector that rides up or rubs will be taken off.
- Choose a style the wearer finds acceptable: male, female, unisex, or open designs worn over pads.
- Make them part of getting dressed, not an extra item.
- In a care home, write them into the care plan so staff put them on after washing and changing.
- Check the skin over the hips regularly, since irritation was the main side effect in the trials.
Related guides
- Fall detection devices
- Personal alarms for elderly people
- Bed and chair sensor alarms
- Grab rails and handrails at home
Frequently asked questions
Do hip protectors prevent hip fractures?
In care homes, slightly. The Cochrane review found about 11 fewer hip fractures per 1,000 residents. For people living at home it found little or no effect.
Do hip protectors stop falls?
No. The Cochrane review found “probably little to no effect on falls”. They are meant to reduce the force on the hip when a fall happens.
Are hip protectors worth it for someone living at home?
The Cochrane review did not find a benefit for people living at home. Side effects were uncommon, so there is little harm in wearing them, but a falls assessment and home safety changes are likely to do more.
What size hip protector do I need?
Measure round the widest part of the hips and use the maker’s chart. For the Safehip AirX Unisex, Mobility Smart lists Medium for 90 to 110 cm and Large for 100 to 120 cm.
Can you wash hip protectors?
Yes. The Safehip AirX can be washed at up to 95°C and tumble dried, according to the maker. Check the label on other brands.
Do hip protectors have side effects?
The Cochrane review reports side effects, mainly skin irritation, in 0% to 5% of wearers.
Sources
All read on 4 November 2026. Santesso N, Carrasco-Labra A and Brignardello-Petersen R, Hip protectors for preventing hip fractures in older people, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 3 (CD001255), and Cochrane’s plain-language summary. Tytex, Safehip AirX product page. Living Made Easy, Safehip AirX listing (Alerta Medical). Mobility Smart, Safehip AirX Unisex product page. Win Health, HipSaver soft hip protectors product page.
Spotted something that has changed? Email hello@reviewmobility.co.uk and we will check it.
Published 4 November 2026