Combination therapy eases OA knee pain

“…the long-term clinical studies of stimulator treatment have shown reductions in pain and associated symptoms, improved function, overall improvement in OA knees, and substantial deferral of TKA for at least 4 years.”

x-bionic-summaryLower Extremity Review November 2013

Combining Irving, CA-based VQ OrthoCare’s BioniCare transcutaneous electrical joint stimulator with an unloading knee brace improves OA symptoms significantly more than electrical stimulation alone, according to a multicenter study published in October in The American Journal of Orthopedics.

Practitioners at 16 US clinics randomized patients with knee OA to best medical therapy, including weight loss, knee-strengthening exercises, and analgesics, plus either the BioniCare device alone (n = 289) or the device and an unloading brace (n = 255). The stimulator fits in a neoprene sleeve worn inside the brace.

At one-, three-, six-, and 12-month evaluations, patients treated with stimulation plus bracing had significantly greater reductions (at least 20% greater) in pain and related symptoms than those receiving stimulation alone. Study authors suggested the stimulator-brace combination might help patients defer knee replacement surgery.

  References

bionicare-knee-osteoarthritis-ajo
Synergistic effect of using a transcutaneous electrical joint stimulator and an unloading brace in treating osteoarthritis of the knee, Hungerford DS, Maclaughlin EJ, Mines CM, Deveshwar S, Elliott C, Tuber JS, Principe JR, Ford TL, Schechtman J, Zizic TM. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2013 Oct;42(10):456-63.

Source The American Journal of Orthopedics via Lower Extremity Review

Mobility Menu
   403-240-9100

follow us in feedly

Call 403-240-9100