Abstract
Hip brace is one of the conservative treatments for osteoarthritis of the hip. The brace consists of a quadrilateral socket at the ischial portion and a condylar socket with a prominent at the shelf of the medial condyl. So the body weight can be transmitted partially through the bar between the two sockets. The braces were applied to five nurses, a female teacher and an female clerk. They had unilateral osteoarthritis with initial stage. Average age was thirty-one years old.
Hip pain was 20 points to 30 points, averagely 23.6±3.8 points before treatment started and 30 points to 40 points, averagely 35.7±3.5 points at the examination according to JOA hip score. The advantages of this brace were the effect of eliminating pain and stabilizing effect for all cases. In questionnaire, however, demerits such as troublesome for getting on or taking off, the feeling of pressure and uncomfortable sensation were complained and these implied demand for more improvement.
Gait analysis was performed with or without the brace using gait evaluation system of force plate at the National Murayama Hospital. Reappearance, smoothness and impact as the factors of gait were improved. Gait speed and step increased, and gait width decreased as the factor of distance and time while the brace was applied. In conclusion, improvement of gait feature and increase of stabilization were proved objectively.
