Abstract

Functional braces are often used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol following ligamentous injury of the knee. One of the common problems of a functional knee brace is distal migration. This study was undertaken to identify the migration tendencies of 14 commonly used functional knee braces and the design and measurement characteristics that contribute to migration. Two subjects performed 15 min of exercise (5 min each on a treadmill, slide board, and stair machine), and brace position was measured pre- and postexercise. All 14 braces migrated somewhat. Nine of the braces had migration of less than 5 mm and were considered superior. The brace design (active or passive) had a significant effect (p<.05) on migration. No difference (p>.05) was noted for brace type (custom vs. off the shelf) or fit method (cast vs. measuring tool). Based upon this evaluation, an active brace design is recommended for functional knee braces. Verf.-Referat