The data showed that the TCO reduced forces in both the PF and TF joints, indicating that a TCO’s spring loaded hinge is sufficiently powerful to provide clinically meaningful tri-compartment offloading benefits. Given that offloading the knee is commonly associated with a reduction in pain for patients with knee OA, the researchers concluded that the TCO may be an effective treatment option to reduce pain and functional limitations in patients with multicompartmental osteoarthritis (OA), allowing them to resume or increase their physical activity.3
This study was our first formal evaluation of the biomechanical effects of a Spring Loaded knee brace. It provided the first data supporting the tri-compartment offloading effect of the brace. These findings informed the direction of future research and have since been replicated in independent studies that focused on the biomechanical effects of Spring Loaded bracing.4