Design Evaluation in Novel Orthoses for Patients with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis

Study on the Influencing Factors of Osteoarthritis in Southern China

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic disease with numerous and interacting influencing factors, and current inadequate patient perceptions and behaviors in access to care contribute to the difficulties in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of osteoarthritis.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of osteoarthritis (OA) in a southern Chinese population and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of OA.

Methods

A 1 : 2 matched case-control study was used to select 160 patients with OA from three hospitals in southern China as a case group. Three hundred and twenty cases of the same sex and similar age (within ± 2 years) were selected as the control group, and relevant data were collected for univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups of participants in terms of age, sex, and education (P > 0.05). Logistic regression statistical analysis showed that genetic factors (OR = 4.52, 95% CI = 1.56-7.83), body mass index (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.16-5.84), alcohol consumption (OR = 3.81, 95% CI = 1.53-5.87), and a history of external joint limb injury (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.67-5.24) would increase the risk of OA. In contrast, eating more fresh vegetables (OR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.03-0.31), more fresh fruits (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.12-0.96), more soy products (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.04-0.45), and exposure to sunlight (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14-0.71) would reduce the OA risk of OA.

Conclusion

Obesity, alcohol consumption, and a history of joint trauma all increase the risk of OA in a southern Chinese population, whereas a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, soy products, and sun exposure would reduce the risk of OA. In the future, we should focus on improving patients' awareness of medical care and developing their self-management skills, improving GPs' treatment skills, improving negative attitudes of both doctors and patients, and promoting positive patient care.

Biomechanical Effect of Valgus Knee Braces on the Treatment of Medial Gonarthrosis: A Systematic Review

Background

Valgus braces are prescribed as a common conservative treatment option for patients with medial gonarthrosis to improve their quality of life. Many studies had reviewed the effects of the valgus braces on patients with medial gonarthrosis, while they mainly focused on the knee adduction moment (KAM), with less attention paid to other parameters such as spatiotemporal and morphological parameters.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to review the effects of valgus braces on the spatiotemporal, kinematic/kinetic, morphological, and muscle parameters.

Methods

Based on the selected keywords, a survey of literatures was performed in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using the PRISMA methods, and the search period was established from January 2000 to March 2022.

Results

Thirty-four articles were included. According to the conclusion of these articles, the valgus brace can be used to relieve the symptoms of patients with medial gonarthrosis by decreasing the varus angle, decreasing the KAM, and redistributing the knee compartment loads. However, the effects of valgus braces on other biomechanical parameters (e.g., walking speed, cadence, joint angle, and joint space) had not reached a consensus.

Conclusions

The valgus knee brace can effectively relieve the symptoms of medial gonarthrosis through multiple mechanisms, while there is still some confusion about the effectiveness of the valgus brace on the other biomechanical parameters.