Davy Laroche1, Claire Morisset2, Clementine Fortunet3, Vincent Gremeaux4, Jean-Francis Maillefert5, Paul Ornetti5. 1. CIC INSERM 1432, Plateforme d'Investigation Technologique, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon F-21078, France; INSERM U1093, Dijon F-21079, France. Electronic address: davy.laroche@chu-dijon.fr. 2. CIC INSERM 1432, Plateforme d'Investigation Technologique, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon F-21078, France; INSERM U1093, Dijon F-21079, France. 3. Department of Rheumatology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon F-21078, France. 4. CIC INSERM 1432, Plateforme d'Investigation Technologique, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon F-21078, France; INSERM U1093, Dijon F-21079, France; Department of Physical Medicine, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon F-21078, France; University of Burgundy, Dijon F-21079, France. 5. INSERM U1093, Dijon F-21079, France; Department of Rheumatology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon F-21078, France; University of Burgundy, Dijon F-21079, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-pharmacological therapies are recommended for the care of knee osteoarthritis patients. Unloader knee braces provide an interesting functional approach, which aims to modulate mechanical stress on the symptomatic joint compartment. We aimed to confirm the biomechanical effects and evaluate functional benefits of a new knee brace that combines a valgus effect with knee and tibial external rotation during gait in medial osteoarthritis patients. METHODS: Twenty patients with unilateral symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis were included and they performed two test sessions of 3D gait analysis with and without the brace at the initial evaluation (W0) and after 5weeks (W5) of wearing the brace. VAS-pain, satisfaction scores, WOMAC scores, spatio-temporal gait parameters (gait speed, stride length, stance and double stance phases, step width), and biomechanical data of the ipsilateral lower limb (hip, knee, ankle and foot progression angles) were recorded at each session. RESULTS: VAS-pain and WOMAC significantly decreased at W5. Walking speed was not significantly modified by knee bracing at W0, but increased significantly at W5. Knee adduction moments and foot progression angles significantly decreased in the terminal stance and push off, respectively, with bracing at W0 and W5. Lower-limb joint angles, moments and powers were significantly modified by wearing the brace at W0 and W5. CONCLUSION: This new knee brace with distraction-rotation effects significantly alters knee adduction moments and foot progression angles during gait, which might lead to significant functional gait improvements and have carry-over effects on pain at the short term in osteoarthritis patients (<2 months). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level IV.
BACKGROUND: Non-pharmacological therapies are recommended for the care of knee osteoarthritispatients. Unloader knee braces provide an interesting functional approach, which aims to modulate mechanical stress on the symptomatic joint compartment. We aimed to confirm the biomechanical effects and evaluate functional benefits of a new knee brace that combines a valgus effect with knee and tibial external rotation during gait in medial osteoarthritispatients. METHODS: Twenty patients with unilateral symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis were included and they performed two test sessions of 3D gait analysis with and without the brace at the initial evaluation (W0) and after 5weeks (W5) of wearing the brace. VAS-pain, satisfaction scores, WOMAC scores, spatio-temporal gait parameters (gait speed, stride length, stance and double stance phases, step width), and biomechanical data of the ipsilateral lower limb (hip, knee, ankle and foot progression angles) were recorded at each session. RESULTS:VAS-pain and WOMAC significantly decreased at W5. Walking speed was not significantly modified by knee bracing at W0, but increased significantly at W5. Knee adduction moments and foot progression angles significantly decreased in the terminal stance and push off, respectively, with bracing at W0 and W5. Lower-limb joint angles, moments and powers were significantly modified by wearing the brace at W0 and W5. CONCLUSION: This new knee brace with distraction-rotation effects significantly alters knee adduction moments and foot progression angles during gait, which might lead to significant functional gait improvements and have carry-over effects on pain at the short term in osteoarthritispatients (<2 months). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level IV.
Authors: Michelle Hall; Scott Starkey; Rana S Hinman; Laura E Diamond; Gavin K Lenton; Gabrielle Knox; Claudio Pizzolato; David J Saxby Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-06-03 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Zidan Gong; Rong Liu; Winnie Yu; Thomas Kwok-Shing Wong; Yuanqi Guo; Yue Sun Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2019-02-17 Impact factor: 2.629