Bioactive Knee Sleeve for Osteoarthritis: A Small Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with limited evidence for conservative treatments.
• Bioactive sleeves are emerging as a potential non-invasive therapy for knee arthritis.
• Existing literature on bioactive sleeve efficacy for knee OA pain and function is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a bioactive sleeve on patient-reported outcomes in knee OA.
• To assess changes in pain, function, and quality of life in OA patients using a bioactive sleeve.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of bioactive sleeves as a conservative management strategy for knee osteoarthritis.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 14 knee OA patients used a bioactive sleeve (Reparel).
• Patients avoided lifestyle changes and corticosteroid injections during the study.
• Standardized outcome scores (Lysholm, Oxford, KOOS, SANE, VAS) were collected at baseline and follow-up points (2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months).

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in KOOS pain, symptoms, daily activities, and quality of life at 2 weeks and 3 months.
• Oxford Knee Score and Lysholm Knee Score showed significant increases at multiple time points.
• Visual Analog Scale for pain improved significantly by 2 weeks, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation improved by 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Bioactive sleeves show promise in improving patient-reported pain, symptoms, and function in knee OA.
• The findings suggest a potential role for bioactive sleeves in managing knee arthritis.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role and long-term effects of bioactive sleeves in knee OA management.