Dynamic knee brace in the treatment of patellofemoral disorders

The efficiency of a knee brace with a 0 degree-30 degrees range of motion was studied in 17 patients with anterior knee pain. Eighteen patients with identical symptoms served as controls. The brace was worn for 6 weeks. Follow-up was performed after 6 weeks and 3 and 12 months. After 6 weeks, 82% of the patients treated with the brace were classified as improved, compared with 44% without it, according to a strict evaluation system. However, after 12 months only 35% of the patients treated with the knee brace could be rated as improved. Despite this marked deterioration, the brace should be considered an alternative to immobilization, because it minimizes the load on the patellofemoral joint and prevents atrophy of the quadriceps muscle.