The Impact of Open Patella Knee Cap and Designed Off-Loader Valgus Knee Brace on Muscle Activity Patterns and Joint Loading during Walk In Normal Adult ? A Pilot Study

Objective: To assess the biomechanical impacts of open patella knee cap/sleeve and designed polycentric off-loader knee brace on knee joint movement during gait in normal adult. Method: Quantitative assessment for the pressure changes of strain gauges of muscles around the knee joint during normal gait with & without knee cap & brace are recorded in MATLAB and further analyzed. Results: The application of open patella knee cap reduces co-contractions in magnitude of lateral hamstring pair and increases those of medial hamstring pair. Contrary to it when exposed to offloader valgus knee brace same subjects had significantly vastus lateralis -lateral hamstring co-contractions greater in magnitude than those of vastus Medialis-medial hamstring. Conclusion: The application of open patella knee cap/sleeve without hinge joint and designed offloader knee brace attempt to redistribute the load laterally or medially respectively as needed in context to demand in normal adult