title: The use of a pneumatic leg brace in soldiers with tibial stress fractures--a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Physical Therapy Department, 1585 Third Street, Fort Polk, LA 71459, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kardouni
authors.forename: Mae H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hemphill
authors.forename: Carrie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Allyson E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Duplessis
authors.forename: Greer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evans-Christopher
mesh_terms: 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*