The effectiveness of the UniReliever offloading knee brace for treating medial knee osteoarthritis: A randomized clinical trial.
Michael Benning, Stéphanie Villet, Alyssia Marques and 1 others
PMID 41331771WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with medial knee osteoarthritis who wore either the UniReliever or Unloader One X brace for six weeks walked significantly farther without pain than controls.
Both braces performed similarly, with no significant difference between them.
Key findings
01Pain-free walking distance increased significantly in both brace groups compared to control, with no significant difference between the two braces.
02Both braces significantly reduced pain after exertion and improved function on the Lequesne index compared to control.
03Most brace users reported subjective improvement in range of motion and global impression of change, though objective goniometer measurements showed no significant group differences.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was open-label, which may introduce bias in subjective outcomes like pain and global impression of change. The control group did not wear a look-alike brace, so placebo effects cannot be ruled out. The six-week duration is short, so long-term effectiveness and safety are unknown. Results apply only to medial knee OA and may not generalize to lateral or patellofemoral OA. Objective range of motion measurements did not align with subjective reports, suggesting a disconnect between patient perception and physical change.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Thuasne, the manufacturer of the UniReliever brace. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the UniReliever brace is superior to the Unloader One X. The study was powered to show non-inferiority, and no significant difference was found between the two braces. Additionally, subjective improvements in range of motion were not supported by objective measurements, so do not expect structural changes in knee movement.
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