Wearable Belt Could Reduce Hip Injuries by 91 Percent
This new prescription device uses sensor-activated airbags to help high-risk seniors prevent injuries during a fall.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Senior Health
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TIME named the Tango Belt, a wearable device designed to prevent hip injuries, one of its 2026 Best Inventions. This prescription-based system uses sensor technology to deploy protective airbags during a fall for older adults at high risk for injury.
Why it matters
Falls are a leading cause of major hip injuries in older populations, making technologies that mitigate impact severity a critical development in fall prevention. The device aims to provide a proactive layer of safety that can significantly reduce the risk of debilitating fractures.
Clinical study data reports a 91% relative reduction in major hip injuries for users of the Tango Belt compared to traditional fall outcomes. The wearable technology is officially recognized with an FDA Breakthrough Device designation.
The players
ActiveProtective
A Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based company that develops fall protection wearable technology for high-risk older adults.
The details
The Tango Belt utilizes three-dimensional motion sensors and advanced algorithms to continuously monitor for movement patterns characteristic of a fall. When the system detects a fall in progress, an integrated airbag deploys in less than 90 milliseconds. This rapid activation is designed to cushion the hip before the body makes contact with the ground, thereby absorbing the kinetic energy that would otherwise cause a fracture.
Timeline
The Tango Belt was named a 2026 Best Invention of the year.
Health Landscape
The Tango Belt aligns with the FDA Breakthrough Device designation program, which prioritizes technologies offering more effective treatment for debilitating conditions. It represents a shift toward active, sensor-based injury prevention within the broader senior health market.
If you or a loved one are identified as being at high risk for falls, it is worth discussing with your physician whether a prescription device like the Tango Belt is appropriate. Understanding the device's role as a secondary protective measure is important for managing overall fall-related risk.
The takeaway
The Tango Belt offers a promising technological approach to lowering the incidence of severe hip injuries in high-risk seniors. As a next step, speak with your doctor about your personal fall risk factors and whether wearable safety technology fits into your overall fall prevention plan.
Further reading
For more on protective technologies, visit Senior Health.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyChesCo.
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