title: Device use: walking AIDS, braces, and orthoses for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: With too few conservative options in the current medical system, increasing numbers of osteoarthritis (OA) sufferers are using untested folk remedies and self-prescribed dietary supplements. There is enormous popular demand for noninvasive and nonpharmacologic therapies for OA, and there is a pressing need for clinicians to respond to this demand by updating their practice. This review introduces clinicians to the most important noninvasive devices used in the conservative management of knee OA. Because the shared goal of these devices is to favorably alter lower limb biomechanics, each section of the review considers evidence of biomechanical and clinical efficacy.
authors.affiliation: MGH Institute of Health Professions, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129-4557, USA. kdgross@mghihp.edu
authors.forename: K Douglas
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016138:Walking