① A recent meta-analysis concluded that knee braces decrease pain, joint stiffness and medication usage while also improving proprioception, balance, physical functioning and radiology grading in patients with varus and valgus knee osteoarthritis (Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;90(3):247-62).
② A clinical trial assessed whether unloader braces (those that modify joint loading with external stems, hinges and straps) are effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee, and found significant improvements in pain, stiffness, physical functioning and disease-specific quality of life (J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1999;81(4):539-48).
③ A systematic review concludes that patellar bracing actively affects patellar tracking, significantly decreasing pain and improving functioning, by reducing compression on the patella’s lateral aspect as well as internal femur rotation (Cochrane Rev 2002.CD002267).
④ A 2005 study found that patients using patellar bracing demonstrated statistically significant increases in ROM and progressed to advanced weight-bearing exercises sooner and with less pain than patients utilizing exercise alone (J Orthop Sports Phys Ther.2005;35(4):210-219).
⑤ A survey of orthopedic surgeons regarding treatment of ACL injuries found that 97% prescribed braces for ACL- deficient patients, 87% for ACL-reconstructed patients, and that the prescribed duration of use was normally 9 to 12 months (Orthopedics.2003;26(7):701-6).
⑥ According to a randomized controlled trial of 98 patients that assessed the efficacy of intermittent and continuous traction for patients with knee osteoarthritis, joint traction was found to improve pain and physical function loss related to knee osteoarthritis (Clin Rehabil. 2013 Apr;27(4):347-54).
⑦ A study of 50 patients experiencing osteoarthritis of the knee found that Mechanical Traction had a statistically and clinically significant positive effect. Researchers noted improvement in functional outcome after application of Mechanical Traction and may be because of relief of abnormal pressure on nociceptive receptor systems, reduced stasis and edema, toned muscles, and restored elasticity and resiliency (International Journal of Science and Research. 2014 Oct;10 (3)).