Fig 1.
(A) Knee kinematics from lateral and frontal view in comparison to (B) brace kinematic of the 4-point knee orthosis for varus or valgus pressure relief and stabilization (M.4s OA, medi GmbH & Co. KG, Bayreuth, Germany).
Fig 2.
Determination of the terminal contact, based on the maximum deflection of the pitch angle.
(A) The gait cycle and the measured pitch angle of the feet. (B) The definition of the orientation axis and the pitch angle of the foot sensor.
Fig 3.
Physiological knee movement (3D) over one gait cycle measured for different publications.
(A) Knee ab-/ adduction of the knee during movement in the frontal plane. (B) Knee flexion/ extension of the knee during movement in the sagittal plane. (C) Knee inner/ outer rotation of the knee during movement in the transversal plane.
Fig 4.
Movement of the knee in the frontal plane with and without a brace.
(A) Knee ab-/adduction over one gait cycle for physiological walking without a brace. (B) Knee ab-/adduction while wearing the knee brace in a neutral position.
Fig 5.
Movement of the right knee in the frontal plane with a valgus adjusted brace.
(A) Knee ab-/adduction over one gait cycle with the brace in a light valgus adjustment. (B) Knee ab-/adduction with the brace in a strong valgus adjustment.
Fig 6.
Movement of the right knee in the frontal plane with a varus adjusted brace.
(A) Knee ab-/adduction over one gait cycle with the brace in a light varus adjustment. (B) Knee ab-/adduction with the brace in a strong varus adjustment.
Table 1.
Statistic results of the Wilcoxon test used to compare between the measurements taken without a brace and the brace in a neutral position.
Table 2.
Statistic results of the Friedman-Test to analyze the effect of different brace adjustments.
Table 3.
Percent of cases (number of attendees) showing the desired effect caused by brace manipulation.
Fig 7.
Grouped knee movement in the frontal plane for physiological walking.