The use of a pneumatic leg brace in soldiers with tibial stress fractures--a randomized clinical trial.
METHODS
Single blind randomized controlled replication study.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effect of a pneumatic leg brace on return-to-activity and pain in soldiers with tibial stress fractures.


METHODS
Thirty-one subjects diagnosed with tibial stress fractures were randomly assigned to either a brace or control group. Dependent variables included time to pain-free single-leg hopping, visual analog pain scale, and time to a pain-free 1-mile run. Twenty subjects (10 brace, 10 control) completed a detailed functional progression culminating in a 1-mile run.


RESULTS
There was no difference between groups for time to pain-free hop (p > 0.86; power = 0.43) and time to pain-free 1-mile run (p > 0.24; power = 0.92). Subjects in both groups experienced statistically significant improvements in pain measurements (p < 0.002), but no difference was found between groups (p > 0.93).


CONCLUSIONS
The current study demonstrated no added benefit of Aircast leg braces in the treatment of tibial stress fractures in the military training environment.
Allen
Christopher S
CS
Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Physical Therapy Department, 1585 Third Street, Fort Polk, LA 71459, USA.
Flynn
Timothy W
TW
Kardouni
Joseph R
JR
Hemphill
Mae H
MH
Schneider
Carrie A
CA
Pritchard
Allyson E
AE
Duplessis
David H
DH
Evans-Christopher
Greer
G
D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries*