The Biomechanical Effects of an Externally Applied Orthosis on Medial Compartment Knee Osteoarthritis

This thesis examined the immediate biomechanical effects of valgus unloader brace application in participants with moderate medial compartment knee osteoarthritis during gait. Thirty-three individuals were prescribed a valgus unloader brace. 3D knee moments and angles were calculated during walking with and without the brace. Principal Component Analysis identified amplitude and temporal changes of the moment and angle waveforms during gait. Three groups were identified based on the change in knee adduction moment magnitude with brace application. Two-Way ANOVA tested for differences among groups and conditions in principal component scores, as well as discrete varus thrust values.

There existed three subgroups of participants identified by different gait adaptations to brace application. The brace had temporal and magnitude effects on 3D kinetics and kinematics for the participant group. This study showed that the brace does not provide a consistent change to knee joint mechanics. These results have implications for brace prescription.

Year	Entry
2006	Andriacchi TP, Mündermann A. The role of ambulatory mechanics in the initiation and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Curr Opin Rhuematol. September 2006;18(5):514-518.
2000	Piazza SJ, Cavanagh PR. Measurement of the screw-home motion of the knee is sensitive to errors in axis alignment. J Biomech. August 2000;33(8):1029-1034.
2007	Landry SC, McKean KA, Hubley-Kozey CL, Stanish WD, Deluzio KJ. Knee biomechanics of moderate OA patients measured during gait at a self-selected and fast walking speed. J Biomech. 2007;40(8):1754-1761.
1957	Kellgren JH, Lawrence JS. Radiological assessment of osteo-arthrosis. Ann Rheum Dis. December 1957;16(4):494-502.
2002	Miyazaki T, Wada M, Kawahara H, Sato M, Baba H, Shimada S. Dynamic load at baseline can predict radiographic disease progression in medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. July 2002;61(6):617-622.
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Year

Entry

2006

Andriacchi TP, Mündermann A. The role of ambulatory mechanics in the initiation and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Curr Opin Rhuematol. September 2006;18(5):514-518.

2000

Piazza SJ, Cavanagh PR. Measurement of the screw-home motion of the knee is sensitive to errors in axis alignment. J Biomech. August 2000;33(8):1029-1034.

2007

Landry SC, McKean KA, Hubley-Kozey CL, Stanish WD, Deluzio KJ. Knee biomechanics of moderate OA patients measured during gait at a self-selected and fast walking speed. J Biomech. 2007;40(8):1754-1761.

1957

Kellgren JH, Lawrence JS. Radiological assessment of osteo-arthrosis. Ann Rheum Dis. December 1957;16(4):494-502.

2002

Miyazaki T, Wada M, Kawahara H, Sato M, Baba H, Shimada S. Dynamic load at baseline can predict radiographic disease progression in medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. July 2002;61(6):617-622.