Article

Knee osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease. Unloading the affected
compartment using a brace is a treatment option. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether
a decompressive knee brace alters loading in medial knee osteoarthritis following
2 and 8 weeks of use.
STUDY DESIGN: Within subjects; pre- and post-testing.
METHODS: A total of 15 individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis attended four
sessions: baseline, fitting, 2 weeks after fitting (post), and 8 weeks after
fitting (final). A gait analysis was performed at baseline (without knee brace),
post and final. Knee adduction impulse, first and second peak knee adduction
moment, knee motion, and walking velocity were calculated. Participants also
recorded hours and steps taken while wearing the brace. RESULTS: On average, the
brace was worn for more than 6 h/day. Through use of repeated-measures analysis
of variance, it was determined that the knee adduction impulse and second peak
knee adduction moment were reduced (p < 0.05) at post and final compared to
baseline (36% and 34% reduction in knee adduction impulse, 26% reduction in
second peak knee adduction moment for post and final, respectively). Furthermore,
participants walked faster with increased knee motion during stance. CONCLUSION:
The studied decompressive brace was effective in reducing potentially detrimental
forces at the knee-knee adduction impulse and second peak knee adduction moment
during the stance phase of gait. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
The data from this study
suggest that use of a medial unloading brace can reduce potentially detrimental
adduction moments at the knee. Clinicians should use this evidence to advocate
for use of this noninvasive treatment for people presenting with medial knee
osteoarthritis.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS