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Background: The knee joint must adapt to the changes in walking speed to stabilize the stance phase and provide fluency in the swing phase. Objective: This study aimed to report a comparison of the gait patterns of transfemoral amputees using a novel mechanical prosthetic knee that can adapt automatically to different walking speeds with 3R60 and 3R15 knee prostheses. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, biomechanical data were collected from six unilateral trans-femoral amputees walking with three knee prostheses. Gait data were gathered at slow, normal, and fast walking speeds across a 7-meter walkway using the Vicon motion system. Results: The results revealed a significant difference in knee angular velocity during the swing phase between prosthetic knees across three walking speeds (P-value=0.002). Prosthetic knee flexion decreased significantly by increasing walking speed for the novel mechanical auto-adaptive prosthetic knee (P-value<0.001). A lower value of hip power during early swing was considered when amputees walked with novel knee prosthesis (P-value<0.00). The intact leg ankle plantar flexion angle or vaulting did not significantly change while walking speed increased in the novel knee prostheses compared to walking with the 3R60 and 3R15 knee prostheses (P-value=0.002 and P-value<0.06, respectively). Conclusion: Based on the results, a novel mechanical auto-adaptive knee prosthesis has advantages compared to the other conventional designs for unilateral trans-femoral amputees walking at different speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral epicondylitis is one of the most common elbow problems. Counterforce braces are commonly used to manage lateral epicondylitis. Recent studies showed that vibration can decrease pain and increase muscle strength by improving motor abilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a counterforce brace with and without vibration on pain, muscular strength, wrist and elbow joints range of motion in the participants with lateral epicondylitis. In this repeated measure pre-post clinical trial study, 28 participants with lateral epicondylitis were included. Pain were measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), wrist and elbow flexor/extensor muscles strength with digital dynamometer, wrist and elbow flexion/extension range of motion with goniometer in 3 condition baseline, counterforce brace and counterforce brace with vibration. Pain using counterforce bracing with vibration showed a significant reduction as compared with baseline and counterforce bracing (P < 0.001). Wrist flexor muscles strength (P = 0.005), elbow flexor/extensor muscles strength respectively (P = 0.04, P = 0.02), wrist flexion/extension range of motion (P < 0.001) following the use of counterforce bracing with vibration increased significantly compared with baseline. The results show that the counterforce bracing with and without vibration relieves pain and improves range of motion and muscles strength in lateral epicondylitis participants, but this improvement is more significant with the use of vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to evaluate custom-made 3D printed insoles for people with flatfeet. PubMed, Embase, ISI web of knowledge, ProQuest, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, were searched from inception until January 2022. The quality assessment of included studies was performed through the Downs and Black checklist. A narrative analysis was performed since a meta-analysis could not be conducted. Ten studies including 225 subjects with flexible flatfeet were chosen for final evaluation. Although the evidence from selected literature was generally weak, using insoles with 3D printing technology may positively affect pain (comfort score) and foot function, with no significant change in vertical loading rate during walking or running. There were discrepancies among studies for plantar pressures, center of pressure trajectories, 3D ankle joint kinematics and kinetics of gait while wearing these insoles. Dose-response effects of medial posting on 3D printed insoles suggested beneficial effects on lower limb gait biomechanics in people with flatfeet. There was insufficient evidence to conclude the comparison between 3D printed insoles and other types of insoles. In conclusion, using a 3D printed insole may improve comfort score and foot function in people with flatfeet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knee unloader brace can change loading on knee which may be effective in reducing symptoms and progression of disease in people with knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new knee brace during walking in a patient with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Two brace types were used: new brace and conventional brace. A pneumatic cuff of novel brace was fitted in the bottom of the medical slipper that was connected to the cuff section of the knee through the tube. After the knee brace is deployed, its force can vary in different stages of the gait. During the heel strike, the weight of the cuff is compressed on the floor, causing the air to flow inside it and entering the volume of air into the knee pad. The results of using this pneumatic knee brace compared with conventional knee braces on a patient showed that in both cases, the open and closed palatal pump, the adduction moment and ROM was decreased in the stance phase. But the three-point knee pressure, however, was less effective in reducing the adduction moment but also reduced the knee ROM. Using novel brace can eliminate the patient's need for painful and costly surgery to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although shoes act as a protective covering for the feet, they can be an important source of pain and foot disorder if not properly fitted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a shoe with highly compliant upper on the dorsal digital and interdigital pressure in comparison with shoes with a rounded toe box and participant's own shoes in patients with Hallux Abducto Valgus (HAV) deformity. Eighteen participants with moderate to severe HAV were recruited. The patients' perceived comfort and interdigital forefoot pressure were measured using force sensitive resistance sensors while wearing shoes with a round toe box and shoes with stretchable fabric upper and were compared to when the participants were wearing their own preferred shoes. Shoes with stretchable fabric upper significantly reduced the dorsal digital and interdigital pressure and increased perceived comfort. The results of the present study showed the superiority of shoes with stretchable fabric upper in reducing the pressure on the forefoot and the overall comfort compared to shoes with a round toe box and participant's own shoes in people with HAV. It, therefore, seems that shoes with stretchable fabric upper can be recommended to ameliorate the treatment outcome in people with HAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to culturally adapt the original English version of the Physical Activity Scale For Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD) for the Persian-speaking patients with Lower-Limb Amputations (LLAs) and to evaluate its reliability and construct validity. Methods: This research was a multicenter cross-sectional and repeated measure study. The cultural adaptation process was conducted according to an accepted international guideline. A total of 197 Persian-speaking individuals with LLA were recruited to investigate the reliability and validity of the PASIPD. Reliability analyses were assessed by Cronbach a and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. The Association between the PASIPD scores and the prosthetic limb user survey of mobility scores was examined to evaluate the convergent validity of the PASIPD. Known-groups validity was assessed based on sex, amputation causes, and amputation levels. Results: The PASIPD had an acceptable internal uniformity (the Cronbach a of 0.68) and test-retest reproducibility (r=0.70). There was a small correlation between the PASIPD and prosthetic limb user mobility survey (r=0.26; P<0.001). Some items of PASIPD could discriminate individuals with different causes of amputation and sex. Factor analysis extracted four main factors that explained 65.4% of the variance. Discussion: The Persian version of the PASIPD has acceptable reliability and validity for assessing the physical activity of persons with LLAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the validity and reliability of the Persian versions of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity/Brace in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Materials/methods: Persian forward/backward translation of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity/Brace was produced, and all stages for a cross-cultural adaptation process were carried out based on the International Quality of Life Assessment guidelines. The measurements of internal consistency and test–retest reliability were assessed by Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyse the concurrent validity by comparison with the Scoliosis Research Society-22r questionnaire. Results: A total of 53 scoliosis patients (age 13.47 ± 1.78 years, Cobb angle 27.66 ± 11.77°) was included. The Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity/Brace presented acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α for both: 0.72) and ICCs (0.97 and 0.88, respectively). The Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity showed no significant correlation with the Scoliosis Research Society-22r, while the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Brace showed a significant correlation with the Scoliosis Research Society-22r total score, function/activity, self-image, and mental health dimensions (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The Persian Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Brace validly and reliably measures brace-related stress in AIS patients undergoing brace treatment. The cross-cultural adaptation of the Persian version of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire was performed. The Persian-Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire has satisfactory internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and concurrent validity in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The Persian version of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire is suitable for clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]