title: [A new non-invasive biomechanical therapy for knee osteoarthritis improves clinical symptoms and gait patterns].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) focuses on reducing the levels of pain and disability. Recently, a novel biomechanical device and treatment methodology (AposTherapy) was shown to reduce the knee adduction moment while simultaneously challenging the neuromuscular control system through perturbation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to investigate the changes in gait patterns and clinical measurements following treatment with a novel biomechanical device on patients with knee OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 745 patients with bilateral knee OA were analyzed. Patients completed a gait test, Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and SF-36 Health Survey at baseline and after 12 weeks. The biomechanical device was individually calibrated to each patient. Shifting the center of pressure, through changes in the location of the biomechanical elements causes realignment and reduction in the knee adduction moment. Furthermore the configuration of the biomechanical element allows training under controlled perturbation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease was found in WOMAC pain (28.6%) and WOMAC function (25.2%) following three months of therapy (p<0.001). A significant increase was found in the patients' physical quality of life (17.8%) and mental quality of life (11.0%) (p<0.001). Gait velocity, cadence step length, stance phase and single limb support phase improved significantly following three months of therapy (7.6%, 4%, 3.7% and 1.6%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest an overall improvement in the gait patterns, level of pain, function and quality of life of patients with knee OA following three months of AposTherapy.
authors: AposTherapy Research Group, Herzliya, Israel.
authors: Avi
authors: A
authors: Elbaz
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Mor
authors: Ganit
authors: G
authors: Segal
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Drexler
authors: Doron
authors: D
authors: Norman
authors: Eli
authors: E
authors: Peled
authors: Nimrod
authors: N
authors: Rozen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires