Article

Internal hip abduction moment is a major indicator for hip loading. A new hip bracing concept was designed to unload the cartilaginous area in hip
osteoarthritis via an abduction and external rotation force intended to alter the
weight bearing area and reduce compression through the joint. OBJECTIVE: To
assess the effect of a novel brace on hip rotation in the transverse and coronal
planes and on the hip abduction moment. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated measures. METHODS:
Gait analysis was performed on 14 subjects with unilateral symptomatic hip
osteoarthritis. Pain, joint motion, moments and vertical ground reaction force
were compared between the braced and the unbraced (control), randomly assigned,
conditions. RESULTS: Nine participants felt an immediate reduction in pain while
walking with the hip brace. Peak hip abduction moment significantly decreased on
the osteoarthritis side ( p = 0.017). Peak hip adduction ( p = 0.004) and
internal rotation ( p = 0.0007) angles significantly decreased at stance with the
brace. CONCLUSION: Wearing the brace would appear to reduce the compressive joint
reaction force at the femuroacetabular interface as indicated by a reduction in
internal hip abduction moment along with immediate pain reduction in nine
participants. Further long-term studies are warranted. Clinical relevance The
brace rotates the hip in the transverse and coronal planes, possibly resulting in
a decrease in load through the diseased area of cartilage. In some patients, an
immediate decrease in pain was experienced. The brace offers an alternative
solution for hip osteoarthritis patients not ready for a hip replacement.

Langue : ANGLAIS