Comparison between patients with COPD and healthy subjects on spatiotemporal, moment and kinematic parameters: A quasi-experimental study.

Background and Aims: Chronic obstructive respiratory diseases (COPD) not only cause damage to the respiratory system as well as the heart and blood vessels of the patient but also have a direct effect on the condition of the musculoskeletal system. The risk of falling is increasing due to dysfunction of the joints as well as aging, which occurs frequently in this population. Gait deficits are known as an important risk factor for falls. This research aimed to investigate the gait of COPD patients compared to healthy people to gain a better understanding of the reasons for falls. Methods: Twenty patients with COPD and 20 age and BMI-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. Sixteen markers were applied to the lower body of the subjects. Spatio-temporal, kinematic, and maximum moment parameters were measured in different phases in three lower body joints, including the hip, knee, and ankle. Results: The results showed that all spatio-temporal parameters in patients were significantly lower than in healthy people. The ankle angle in the sagittal plane at initial contact was significantly difference (p = 0.03). As well as, in the frontal plane the hip angle in the mid-stance showed a significant difference (p = 0.02). There was also a significant difference in maximum hip moment in the sagittal plane between the two groups (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The larger hip angle of the patients can be related to the balance problems in the mediolateral direction. The moment showed a significant difference in the hip joint. Since the hip muscles are directly in a synergistic relationship with the trunk muscles, it seems the performance of these muscles is likely to be seriously damaged due to respiratory diseases.

Assessing the efficacy of manual reduction and novel traction techniques for distal radius fractures: A randomized controlled trial.

Background and Aim: One of the leading reasons that patients, particularly older persons, are brought to the orthopedic emergency room is a fracture at the end of the radius. In this study, a new traction method for distal radius fractures was compared with manual reduction. Methods: The census method was used in this clinical trial to study 45 patients (46 hands) who were referred to Hamedan Besat Hospital in 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The manual reduction (pressure and traction by an assistant and a doctor) method was implemented in Group A, and the new traction procedure (pressure and traction by hardware or a device) was performed in Group B. The radiographic results of reduction in both groups were investigated and compared immediately and in the first and 6 weeks after surgery. Results: The following results were observed in the new and manual groups in the sixth week after surgery: average volar tilt: 4.19 ± 3.79 and 4.08 ± 3.88 (p = 0.926), radial angulation: 2.18 ± 1.27 and 2.21 ± 1.35 (p = 0.934), radial shortening: 10.52 ± 0.65 and 10.56 ± 0.68 (p = 0.828), radial inclination: 22.52 ± 2.46 and 22.71 ± 2.01 (p = 0.787), dorsal angulation: -5.89 ± 0.33 and 5.22 ± -1.91 (p = 1.00), ulnar variance: 1.66 ± 0.90 and 1.67 ± 0.81 (p = 0.958), and average pain score: 2.40 ± 0.68 and 2.47 ± 0.73 (p = 0.737). Conclusion: The new reduction procedure with hardware in patients with distal radius fractures showed the same effect as the traditional method based on pressure and traction by the assistant and doctor in terms of radiographic changes and pain score of the fracture site.

Evaluating the effective pressure applied by a valgus knee orthosis in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis based on the dose-response relationship.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that valgus knee orthosis improves clinical and biomechanical outcomes in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis (MKOA). It is unclear whether variations in pressure application by orthosis straps can affect the biomechanical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the dose-response relationship between different orthosis straps tensions and changes in knee adduction moment (KAM) parameters in individuals with MKOA. METHOD: Twenty-four individuals with symptomatic MKOA were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. Five tension conditions in orthosis straps were tested in 20-mmHg increments, from 0 (no pressure) to 100 (maximal pressure) mmHg. Patients were asked to adjust the orthosis strap tension based on their perceived comfort. After each condition, a 3D gait analysis was performed, and KAM parameters were calculated. The participants also reported their satisfaction with knee orthosis adjustment for each pressure condition. RESULTS: With successive increases in strap tension from 40 to 80 mmHg, the first peak, second peak, and angular impulse of KAM decreased nonlinearly (from 6 % to 25 %). Increasing the orthosis strap tension to 100 mmHg significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the participants' satisfaction level. The effective dosages (IC50) of pressure for the first peak, second peak, and angular impulse of KAM as responses were 58, 65, and 69 mmHg, respectively. CONCLUSION: The KAM decline was not linear as the strap pressure increased. Patients were dissatisfied with orthosis adjustment when strap tension was above 80 mmHg. The optimum dosage of pressure on the knee joint's lateral side for adjusting an orthosis' strap tension is approximately 69 mmHg.

Does Bracing Control the Progression of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in Curves Higher Than 40°? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Routinely, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves that progress beyond 40° in skeletally immature adolescents require surgery. However, some adolescents with AIS and their parents utterly refuse surgery and insist on wearing a brace. Debate continues regarding the appropriateness of bracing for AIS curves exceeding 40° in patients who have rejected surgical intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to review the literature on the effectiveness of bracing and its predictive factors in largermagnitude AIS curves ≥40°. This study replicated the search strategy used by the PICOS system for formulating study questions, which include consideration of the patient/population (P), intervention (I), comparison (C), outcome (O), and study design (S). The search was conducted up to January 2022 in the following bibliographic online databases only in the English language: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Two assessors reviewed the articles for qualification. Eligible studies were assessed for risk of bias at the study level using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The effect size across the studies was determined using standardized mean differences (Cohen's d) and 95% confidence intervals for the meta-analysis. Among the eight included moderate quality studies, evidence of potential publication bias (p <0.05) for the trials included was found in the Cobb angle outcome. Results obtained through meta-analysis indicated that the effectiveness of bracing in controlling Cobb angle progression in curves ≥40° is significantly positive. Additionally, initial curve severity, Risser stage, in-brace curve correction, curve type, and apical vertebral rotation were considered risk factors associated with brace effectiveness. This systematic review revealed that bracing could alter the normal course of AIS curves ≥40° in patients refusing posterior spinal fusion (PSF). However, the suggested course for patients refusing PSF remains unclear because of the significant heterogeneity in the risk factors associated with bracing failure.

Effect of knee braces and insoles on clinical outcomes of individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Knee osteoarthritis is a disabling disease, causing pain and reduced function.Orthoses are used to manage this problem, including knee braces and lateral wedge insoles. However, there is still controversy on which type of intervention is more effective. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed toevaluate the effect of knee braces and lateral wedge insoles and compare their clinical outcomes onindividuals with medial knee osteoarthritis. We conducted the search strategy based on the population, intervention, comparison, andoutcome (PICO) method. We searched with PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for the related studies. The articles quality assessment was done based on the modified Downs and Black checklist. Totally, we chose 32 controlled trials, including 1.849 participants, for the final evaluation. Almosttwo-thirds of the studies had a moderate quality. The overall outcome suggested that both interventionshad improved pain and function. The difference between both interventions on pain reduction was not significant (standardized mean difference = 0.12, 95% confidence interval = 0.34 to 0.1) based on meta-analysis. Both knee brace and lateral wedge insole can improve pain and function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Using either separately or both of them together are effective.

Predictive Factors for Outcomes of Overcorrection Nighttime Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review.

Predictive clinical and radiological factors can potentially identify adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) most likely to benefit from overcorrection nighttime bracing. These factors can provide helpful information in clinical decision making. However, the relationship between these factors and outcomes of overcorrection nighttime bracing is unclear. This systematic review determined the predictive factors for identifying outcomes of overcorrection nighttime bracing in AIS. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase from January 1986 to January 2021. Studies on AIS patients, aged 10-18 years, with a Risser sign of 0-2 and an initial Cobb angle of 20°-45°, who were treated with overcorrection nighttime bracing and for whom at least one predictive factor of treatment outcome (failure and/or success) was assessed were included. Two blinded reviewers independently evaluated the studies using a quality assessment tool. To determine predictive factors, the level of evidence was rated through best-evidence synthesis. A total of nine studies met the inclusion criteria. A Providence brace was used in six of the included studies, while a Charleston bending brace was used in three. Findings from two high-quality studies provided strong evidence of the association between curve flexibility and brace treatment success. In terms of the Risser sign, this evidence was obtained from three high-quality studies. Moderate evidence indicated a positive association between premenarchal status and nighttime bracing failure. Inconclusive evidence indicated that poor brace compliance is associated with treatment failure. Conflicting evidence of treatment failure was indicated for initial curve magnitude, curve type, in-brace correction, age, Risser sign, curve apex, and sex. These findings show that greater curve flexibility and a higher Risser sign are associated with overcorrection nighttime bracing success.

An evaluation of the use of a lateral wedged insole and a valgus knee brace in combination in subjects with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect (6 weeks) of the use of a knee brace and a lateral wedge insole, both in isolation and combined, on the knee adduction moment (KAM), pain levels, kinematics (velocity, stride length, cadence), knee ROM, function, and satisfaction in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Methods: Twenty-one patients with medial compartment knee OA were participated in this study. A relatively light three-point valgus knee brace (VB) and full length custom-made lateral wedge insole with arch support were prepared for each subject. Patients divided into three groups at random.Results: The use of a custom fit valgus brace with lateral edge insole concurrently can reduce a greater peak KAM than use in isolation (30%). In addition, the use of both interventions can improve walking velocity, cadence, and reduce levels of pain in patients with medial compartment OA.Conclusion: All parameters except stride length and KAM in comparison with first day of wearing interventions improved significantly in the combined, concurrent usage group. The use of a lateral wedge insole and a valgus knee brace in combination can improve the kinetic and kinematic parameters in patients with medial compartment knee OA.

The comprehensive lower limb amputee socket survey: Reliability and validity of the persian version.

BACKGROUND: The Comprehensive Lower limb Amputee Socket Survey (CLASS) is a self-reported measure developed to assess prosthetic socket fit in individuals with lower limb amputation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the CLASS. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional and repeated-measures. METHODS: We evaluated the translation and back translation of the CLASS and made the required changes according to expert committee feedback. Then, we recruited 124 participants with unilateral lower limb amputation (89.5% men). Internal consistency was analyzed with Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability using intra-class correlation coefficients. Convergent construct validity was assessed by comparing the CLASS scores with the Persian version of the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales (TAPES) scores. In addition, known groups construct validity was assessed by comparing CLASS scores between groups with different causes and levels of amputation. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient represented a very good internal consistency for all domains of the Persian CLASS (ranged from 0.86 to 0.92). The intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability for the Persian CLASS was good to excellent (ranged from 0.73 to 0.97). There was a significant correlation between the subscales of the Persian CLASS and satisfaction subscales of the Persian TAPES (p < 0.001). There was significant difference between comfort subscale of the Persian CLASS scores by level of amputation. CONCLUSION: The Persian CLASS is a reliable and valid measure for evaluating prosthetic socket fit.