Game Changer™ OA knee brace

Several studies investigating the clinical effectiveness of valgus bracing have reported that patients experience significant reduction in pain and improvement in physical function. Significant reduction of pain during activities of daily living has been reported at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 months.^[4]

Ovation Medical

Given the encouraging evidence that off-loader braces are effective in mediating pain relief in conjunction with knee OA and malalignment, bracing should be fully used before joint realignment or replacement surgery is considered.^[1]

VAS results showed that, compared with control patients, brace patients had significantly less pain throughout the day and better activity levels. The groups did not differ in ability to sleep or NSAID use but each parameter showed a trend to be better in the brace group. There was no effect of time in either VAS.^[2]

Studies of the clinical efficacy of valgus bracing have shown significant pain relief and improvement in function using a number of validated test methods.^[5]

Adjustable valgus bracing was effective in reducing medial compartment load and subsequent pain while also improving knee function in a group of patients with osteoarthritis.^[5]

In this study, we have documented those loads and determined with use of an analytical model and measured kinematics and kinetics, the change in medial compartment load that occurs with bracing. The data support the theory that valgus bracing can significantly reduce medial compartment loads, which is consistent with patient reports regarding pain relief and improved function with the use of valgus bracing.^[5]

Therefore, valgus bracing with adjustable alignment remains an effective therapeutic treatment modality for reducing pain and increasing function in patients with medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis of the knee.^[5]

When a realigning force is applied to the knee using a valgus unloader brace, the expectation is that small improvements in TF alignment and stability will result in meaningful reductions in the magnitude of the Madd and in meaningful improvements in the distribution of compressive load over TF joint surfaces.^[3]

For persons with unicompartment knee osteoarthritis (OA), off-unloader braces are mechanical intervention designed to reduce pain, improve physical function, and possibly slow disease progression. Pain relief is thought to be mediated by distracting the involved compartment via external varus or valgus forces applied to the knee. In so doing, tibiofemoral alignment is improved, and load is shifted off the degenerative compartment, where exposure to potentially damaging and provocative mechanical stresses are reduced.^[4]

Game Changer OA knee brace – Instructions for use. Ovation Medical. Youtube Jun 17, 2017

Source Ovation Medical

References

1. Unloader braces for medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: implications on mediating progression, Ramsey DK, Russell ME. Sports Health. 2009 Sep;1(5):416-26. Full text
2. Efficacy of Unloader Bracing in Reducing Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis, Ostrander RV, Leddon CE, Hackel JG, O’Grady CP, Roth CA. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2016 Jul-Aug;45(5):306-11.
3. Noninvasive Devices Targeting the Mechanics of Osteoarthritis, K. Douglas Gross PT ScD, Howard J. Hillstrom PhD. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2008 Aug;34(3):755-76. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2008.06.001.
4. Unloader braces for medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: implications on mediating progression, Ramsey DK, Russell ME. Sports Health. 2009 Sep;1(5):416-26. Full text
5. Reduction of Medial Compartment Loads with Valgus Bracing of the Osteoarthritic Knee, Pollo FE, Otis JC, Backus SI, Warren RF, Wickiewicz TL. Am J Sports Med. 2002 May-Jun;30(3):414-21.