2008 Volume 58 Issue 4 Pages 387-396
Background & Purposes : WISH-type hip brace has been used for patients with painful hip osteoarthritis. Both Harris and JOA scoring systems have indicated significant improvement of hip function. The present study examined the effect of the brace on dynamic balances in those patients. Patients & Methods : We performed dynamic balance measures including Cross test, Timed up and go test (TUG) and Multi-directional reach test (MDRT) in 8 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Results : High intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were obtained in the distances of the amplitudes in both fore-after and lateral directions, which were depicted by cross test, quickly performed TUG, and anterior and lateral multi-directional functional reaches with only non affected-side arm. In contrast, when the brace was not applied, low ICCs were observed in comfortably performed TUG and MDRT with affected-side arm. While application of the brace did not show any significant effect on the dynamic balances performed here, there was a significant negative relationship between HHS and TUG with as well as without WISH-type hip brace. Conclusion : Quickly performed TUG may reflect hip functions in hip OA patients even with the hip brace.
