title: Effect of the WISH-type hip brace on functional mobility in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip: evaluation using the Timed Up & Go Test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The WISH-type S-form brace, is considered to improve hip function and gait in patients presenting with painful hip osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of the brace on functional mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Timed Up & Go Test (TUG) was performed with right and left turns separately in each subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the patients with the bilateral hip brace, the average time to complete the TUG (8.3 ± 1.7 seconds) was significantly shorter than in those without the brace (9.4 ± 2.9 seconds). On the other hand, for the patients with unilateral hip OA, the improvement of TUG with the hip brace was significant in turning the unbraced leg inside (7.4 ± 1.1 vs. 7.6 ± 1.2 seconds), while not turning the braced leg inside (7.5 ± 1.1 vs. 7.6 ± 1.2 seconds). Furthermore, significant improvement of TUG was found at three-month follow-up and maintained until the 12-month follow-up assessment. This improvement was independent of the application of the brace at the assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The direct effect of the hip brace may be related to the hip function in the turning phase of TUG. In addition, mechanical improvements due to daily exercise may provide an indirect, but essential, effect of the brace on TUG performance.
authors.affiliation: Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa, Maebashi 371-8514, Japan.
authors.forename: Ena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaji
authors.forename: Hideomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces / Q000145:classification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*