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Independent Scientific Exhibit Rates OA Brace Effectiveness at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons®
Washington D.C. An independent scientific exhibit presented at this year's meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons® rated the performance of OA braces, announced Bledsoe Brace Systems, one of the participants.
The study "In Vivo Three-Dimensional Determination of OA Brace Effectiveness: A Multiple Brace Analysis," evaluated the effectiveness of osteoarthritis braces in offloading the medial compartment of the knee, believed to relieve pain for OA patients. The research found that one brace outperformed the field in terms of offloading the affected joint in the knee.
According to the study, the Bledsoe Thruster brace "produced the best results." The research was led by Richard D. Komistek, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research and Professor of Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee.
The other manufacturers whose products were evaluated included dj Orthopedics, Generation II, Breg and Innovation Sports.
In the study, Dr. Komistek tested the five models of OA braces on subjects with degenerative joint space narrowing typical of unicompartmental OA. Fluoroscopic images were taken of each subject, at fives instances during the gait cycle: heel strike; 1/3rd of the stance phase; mid-stance; 2/3rds of the stance phase; and toe-off.
To determine which brace is the most effective, the amount of medial condylar separation was assessed for each subject, in each stance phase, and then compared for all five subjects while wearing the different braces.
According to the research, the Bledsoe brace averaged the highest separation at heel-strike. At mid-stance the Bledsoe brace was the only brace to produce an average separation value greater than the margin of error.
At toe-off, the average amount of separation with the Bledsoe brace was 1.3mm, more than three times greater than the second-best performer.
"Dr. Komistek has done the most thorough research to date on condylar separation," according to Gary Bledsoe, CEO of Bledsoe Brace Systems, "and it is the first study to compare manufacturers' products."
The research shows "a noticeable variability between the five braces." At times, some of the braces were deemed less effective than the placebo. Overall, and in each category, the study identified the Bledsoe brace as producing the best results.
"Although we've always been confident in our product designs, we were surprised to learn how far we exceeded the industry's performance. It is a great honor to be dubbed the new gold standard for OA bracing," said Marsh Moore, Director of Sales with the company.
Knee osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis, afflicting over 25% of adults 45 to 64 years of age, and more than 60% of seniors over 65.
The study was performed impartially and without financial support from the participating brace companies. Copies of the study are available through the Center for Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Tennessee or through your Bledsoe Brace Systems Sales Representative.
About Bledsoe Brace Systems
Bledsoe Brace Systems is a privately held manufacturer of orthopedic products. Long known for engineering excellence, the company was the first to develop a post op brace and continues to lead in their design and manufacturing. Along with the OA bracing products, Bledsoe produces foot and ankle braces, shoulder and arm braces and functional braces, including their newest product, the Axiom.
Distributing worldwide from their facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, Bledsoe Brace Systems is one of the last orthotic companies committed to manufacturing in the U.S. |
