title: Frontal plane corrective ability of a new unloader orthosis for medial compartment of the knee.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee suffer from pain and stiffness. However, current unloader braces are not being used for extended periods by knee osteoarthritis patients due to interface problems, so compliance is an issue. The aim of this study was to design a new bespoke orthosis that could be comfortable to wear while also providing the required correction to reduce medial compartment loading.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new knee orthosis design was initially tested for its frontal plane correction of knee varus using a surrogate knee model. It was then assessed by a volunteer subject with grade 2 medial compartment knee osteoarthritis using a static standing radiograph.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When fitted to the surrogate knee model, the brace corrected the knee from 10° of varus to neutral alignment in the frontal plane. When worn in situ during static stance on the affected leg of the volunteer patient, it corrected the knee by 6° to a less varus position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The orthosis provided frontal plane correction of the knee during static standing. It could therefore prove to be suitable for use by knee osteoarthritis patients.
authors.affiliation: 1Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mokhtar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arazpour
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi Bani
authors.forename: Stephen William
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.forename: Richard Keith
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi Babadi
mesh_terms: D017760:Bone Malalignment / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Knee osteoarthritis; design and simulation; knee unloader orthosis