title: Effects of a customized biomechanical therapy on patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have shown that a customized biomechanical therapy can improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. These studies were small and did not compare the improvements across gender, age, BMI or initial severity of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of new biomechanical therapy on the pain, function and quality of life of patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred and fifty-four patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis were examined before and after 12 weeks of a personalized biomechanical therapy (AposTherapy). Patients were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index and SF-36 Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks of treatment, the WOMAC-pain and WOMAC-function subscales were significantly lower compared to baseline (both P≤0.001). All eight categories of the SF-36 health survey significantly improved after treatment (all P≤0.001). Females and younger patients showed greater improvements with therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twelve weeks of a customized biomechanical therapy (AposTherapy) improved symptoms of patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. We recommend that this therapy will be integrated in the management of knee osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drexler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Debi
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Debbi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lador
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016138:Walking