The effect of non-linear spring-loaded knee orthosis on lower extremity biomechanics

According to the American College of Rheumatology, there are approximately 14 million people suffering from symptomatic knee Osteoarthritis (OA), two million of those being under the age of 45 [1]. Usual treatments for OA consist of total knee replacement, and use of knee orthosis [2]. However, the biomechanical effects of various knee orthotics have not been quantified. The purpose of this study is to quantify the biomechanical response of the knee joint complex to a newly proposed non-linear spring-loaded knee orthosis. Our preliminary results suggest the knee orthosis causes an increase in the ankle dorsiflexion, and a decrease in the knee and hip flexion. In addition, a decrease in muscle activation in the quadricep muscles suggest proper off-loading by the orthosis in the knee joint.