SynthesisSports health
Effectiveness of Valgus Offloading Knee Braces in the Treatment of Medial Compartment Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in Sports health. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Hip and Knee Bracing: Categorization, Treatment Algorithm, and Systematic Review.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Valgus knee bracing may have no long-term effect on pain improvement and functional activity in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2020Pooled it
- Impact of a Sensor-Based Platform on the Outcome of Medial Off-Loader Bracing in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation · 2025Trial
- Effect of Tai Chi Training on Plantar Loads during Walking in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis.BioMed research international · 2020Trial
- Off-axis biomechanical alterations and related interventions in medial knee osteoarthritis: a mini review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Review
- Article
- EFFECTS OF A SEMI-RIGID KNEE BRACE ON MOBILITY AND PAIN IN PEOPLE WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS.Journal of rehabilitation medicine. Clinical communications · 2022Article
- Biomechanical Effect of Valgus Knee Braces on the Treatment of Medial Gonarthrosis: A Systematic Review.Applied bionics and biomechanics · 2022Review
- Adenosine A2A receptor null chondrocyte transcriptome resembles that of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.Purinergic signalling · 2021Article
- Article
- A Comparison of Dynamic and Static Hip-Knee-Ankle Angle during Gait in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients and Healthy Individuals.Applied bionics and biomechanics · 2021Article
- Biomechanical Study of a Tricompartmental Unloader Brace for Patellofemoral or Multicompartment Knee Osteoarthritis.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2020Article
- Article
- Methods for evaluating effects of unloader knee braces on joint health: a review.Biomedical engineering letters · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
context: Knee osteoarthritis affects 9.3 million adults over age 45 years in the United States. There is significant disability associated with this condition. Given the potential complications and the significant cost to the health care system with the dramatic increase in total knee arthroplasties performed for this condition, assessment of the efficacy of nonoperative modalities, such as offloading knee braces, is essential as part of optimizing nonoperative treatment for this condition.
objective: To determine the effectiveness of valgus offloader braces in improving clinical outcomes for patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. DATA SOURCES:: Three databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE) were searched from database inception through July 28, 2017. STUDY SELECTION:: Studies reporting outcomes of valgus offloader knee braces in the treatment of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis were included. STUDY
design: Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Level 4. DATA EXTRACTION:: Data pertaining to demographics, descriptive statistics, and clinical outcomes were extracted from the included studies. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated.
results: A total of 31 studies were included, with a total of 619 patients. The majority of studies reported improved pain outcomes using valgus offloader braces. However, variable results were reported as to whether valgus offloader braces significantly improved functional outcomes and stiffness. Offloader bracing was more effective at reducing pain when compared with neutral braces or neoprene sleeves.
conclusion: Valgus offloader bracing is an effective treatment for improving pain secondary to medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. The literature remains unclear on the effectiveness of valgus offloader braces with regard to functional outcomes and stiffness. Larger prospective randomized trials with consistent outcome assessment tools and consideration of patient compliance would be beneficial to more accurately determine treatment effects of valgus offloader bracing.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.