Background Medial knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease causing pain and functional impairment. Off-loading knee braces reduce pain but may decrease muscle activity, leading to weakness. Integrating local muscle vibration (LMV) into off-loading braces may enhance muscle activation and clinical outcomes. Objective To design a portable LMV system synchronized with gait phases and compare its efficacy to a conventional off-loading brace in patients with medial KOA. Methods In this randomized clinical trial, 16 patients with medial KOA were assigned to either an LMV-equipped off-loading brace group or a conventional brace group for 4 weeks. Clinical outcomes (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index WOMAC, Visual Analog Scale VAS) and biomechanical parameters (knee adduction moment KAM1, KAM2, impulse, range of motion ROM, cadence, stride length) were assessed pre- and post-intervention using validated questionnaires and a motion analysis system. Results The LMV-equipped brace group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in KAM impulse (−24.79% vs. −7.68%, p=0.050) and improved knee ROM (p=0.048) compared to the conventional brace group. Significant improvements in WOMAC (p=0.001) and VAS (p=0.011) scores were observed in the LMV group, indicating enhanced functional status and pain relief. Conclusion The LMV-equipped off-loading brace provides superior biomechanical (KAM impulse, ROM) and clinical outcomes compared to conventional braces, offering a promising intervention for medial KOA.
Zangi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.