Skip to main content
ACRM 100th Annual Conference Main banner
InBody BWA
Final Program


Back

Pain Rehabilitation

Immediate and Six-Week Effects of Traction Bracing on Anterior Knee Pain

Wednesday, November 1, 2023
5:40 PM – 5:46 PM  
Location: Station 2
Research Objectives: To investigate the effects of a functional traction brace on self reported function and pain in individuals with anterior knee pain.

Design: Single arm longitudinal intervention study with 6-week follow up

Setting: The study was conducted at Nazareth College

Participants: Participants: 28 total subjects (11 males, 17 females) with an average age of 26.21 years (18-60 years of age) with reports of anterior knee pain.

Interventions: Functional patella traction brace (NuNee) used for 6 weeks during exercise and functional activities

Main Outcome Measures: Data were collected at baseline and 6-week follow up. Subjects identified their current level of pain on the 11-point (0-10) Numerical Pain Rating Scale and self-reported their function on the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale . Subjects completed either stair negotiation, squatting, or running both with and without the brace. At the 6 week follow up, pain ratings were obtained both with and without the brace during their original provocative activity, as well as an updated functional score.

Results: At initial visit, when engaging in provocative activity, 25 subjects or 89.3% (N=28) reported statistically significant (p <.001) lower NPRS scores while wearing the brace (M=1.58) compared to completing the same activity without the brace (M=3.54). Twenty-four of 28 (86%) subjects returned for 6-week follow up. At follow up participants demonstrated a significant improvement in AKPS scores (p <.001) between the initial evaluation (M=78.68) and the six week follow up (M=89.46). NPRS scores during functional activity were significantly lower (p <.001) a 6 week follow up (M=0) compared to initial evaluation (M=3.54). Twenty of the 24 subjects (83%) at the six-week follow up reported no pain without the brace before testing. At 6 weeks, all subjects (N=24) reported NPRS scores of 0/10 with the brace during functional activity.

Conclusions: Based on the results, the use of a traction brace may be effective in reducing pain and improving function when worn during activity in individuals with AKP. However, more research is needed to determine the long-term implications of a traction brace on AKP.

Author(s) Disclosures: None

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon viewing this poster presentation the participant shall be able to explain the pathophysiology of Anterior Knee Pain throughout the lifespan.
  • Upon viewing this poster presentation the participant shall be able to describe the benefits of a traction brace on symptoms of anterior knee pain during functional activities.
  • The participant shall be able to identify the patient population that will potentially benefit from the use of a traction brace during functional and athletic activities.