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Decreased Pain and Improved Dynamic Knee Instability Mediate the Beneficial Effect of Wearing a Soft Knee Brace on Activity Limitations in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
Author(s) -
Cudejko Tomasz,
Esch Martin,
Noort Josien C.,
Rijnhart Judith J. M.,
Leeden Marike,
Roorda Leo D.,
Lems Willem,
Waddington Gordon,
Harlaar Jaap,
Dekker Joost
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.23722
Subject(s) - medicine , brace , osteoarthritis , proprioception , knee joint , physical therapy , knee pain , valgus , range of motion , physical medicine and rehabilitation , treadmill , orthodontics , surgery , mechanical engineering , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Objective To evaluate whether improvement of proprioception, pain, or dynamic knee instability mediates the effect of wearing a soft knee brace on activity limitations in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods We conducted an analysis of data for 44 patients with knee OA who were enrolled in a laboratory‐based trial evaluating the effect of wearing a commercially available soft knee brace. Activity limitations were assessed with the 10‐meter walk test and the Get Up and Go test. Knee joint proprioception was assessed by an active joint position sense test; pain was assessed on a numeric rating scale (NRS) (range 0–10); pressure pain threshold (PPT) was assessed with a hand‐held pressure algometer; dynamic knee instability was expressed by the perturbation response, i.e., a measure reflecting a deviation in mean knee varus–valgus angle after a controlled mechanical perturbation on a treadmill, with respect to level walking. Mediation analysis was conducted using the product of coefficients approach. Confidence intervals were calculated with a bootstrap procedure. Results A decrease in pain (scored on an NRS) and a decrease in dynamic knee instability mediated the effect of wearing a soft knee brace on the reduction of activity limitations ( P < 0.05), while changes in proprioception and PPT did not mediate this effect ( P > 0.05). Conclusion This study shows that decreased pain and reduced dynamic knee instability are pathways by which wearing a soft knee brace decreases activity limitations in patients with knee OA.