| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4077195 | The Knee | 2016 | 6 Pages |
•Knee symptoms are frequently reported in younger adults with knee OA after ACLR.•We showed that knee bracing can improve knee confidence, stability and pain.•The study provided preliminary evidence of beneficial effects of knee bracing.•Further exploration of knee bracing efficacy is encouraged in this population.
Background and purposeThis pilot study evaluated the immediate and four-week effects of an unloader knee brace on knee-related symptoms and performance-based function in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).MethodsIndividuals with knee OA, five to 20 years post-ACLR, were recruited for two within-subject randomized studies: immediate effects (n = 18) and four-week effects (n = 11). Patient-reported knee-related symptoms (knee pain, perceived task difficulty, confidence, stability) were assessed during hop for distance and step-down tests, while performance-based function was assessed with hopping distance under three conditions: i) no brace; ii) unadjusted brace (sagittal plane support); and iii) adjusted brace (sagittal plane support with varus/valgus readjustment). Participants in the four-week brace effect study were randomized to wear the unadjusted or adjusted brace for four weeks after baseline (no brace) testing, and repeated tests in their allocated brace at four-week follow-up. Friedman tests evaluated differences between the three brace conditions for each variable for the immediate brace effect study (p < 0.05), and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests evaluated differences between no brace and allocated brace for the four-week study (p < 0.05).ResultsThe adjusted and unadjusted unloader braces produced immediate improvements in knee confidence during hop for distance, and knee pain during step-down. Following the four-week brace intervention, the allocated brace improved knee confidence, perceived task difficulty and stability during hop for distance; and knee pain, perceived task difficulty, confidence, and stability during step-down.ConclusionsThe unloader knee brace, adjusted or unadjusted, has the potential to improve knee-related symptoms associated with knee OA after ACLR.
