Evaluating the effect of equipping an unloading knee orthosis with local muscle vibrators on clinical parameters, muscular activation level, and medial contact force in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis: A randomized trial

摘要: Background:Unloading knee orthosis is prescribed for people with unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (OA) to unload the damaged compartment. However, despite its benefits, wearing unloading knee orthoses in the long term may decrease knee muscle activity and have a side effect on knee OA progression rate.Objectives:Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether equipping an unloading knee orthosis with local muscle vibrators improves its effectiveness in improving clinical parameters, medial contact force (MCF), and muscular activation levels.Methods:The authors performed a clinical evaluation on 14 participants (7 participants wearing vibratory unloading knee orthoses and 7 participants wearing conventional unloading knee orthoses) with medial knee OA.Results:Wearing both orthoses (vibratory and conventional) for 6 weeks significantly improved (p< 0.05) the MCF, pain, symptoms, function, and …