Effectiveness of knee bracing in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis

• Grant number: 12/10013-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Anamaria Jones Martinez
• Grantee: Anamaria Jones Martinez
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Christine Brumini ; Jamil Natour

Abstract

The use of the bracing in patients with knee osteoarthritis is still a controversial issue. There aren't studies comparing different types of knee bracing yet, only studies with inadequate methodology have demonstrated some benefits to the user of knee bracing in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A controlled and randomized study will be carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of knee bracing in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A sample of 120 individuals, 60 and over 60 years old, both gender, with knee osteoarthritis will take part in the study, which will be divided in three groups: Group 1 - Medication treatment; Group 2 - Neoprene knee bracing without hinge use and medication treatment and Group 3 - Neoprene knee bracing with hinge use and medication treatment. The data will be collected from patients from the UNIFESP ambulatory and from the CRI Norte. The participants will be evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire for life quality, WOMAC and Lequesne of knee for the knee function, EVA for pain, Likert scale for the treatment satisfaction and three functional tests (Timed up and go test, 6 minutes walking and sitting and standing test). The main variable will be the EVA for pain, measurement in the three groups in 4 moments. All the data will be compared by utilizing the ANOVA test for repetitive measure. (AU)