A Great Pair- Knee Unloader Braces and Wedged Orthoses

For my patients that are currently using knee unloader braces that have medial compartment osteoarthritis there may be a nice adjunct to this approach.  A recent study looked at using a lateral wedged foot orthoses in conjuction with this brace showed a significant improvement in both pain levels and function  in this study.
One limitation may be whether patients would be compliant wearing both the brace and the wedge may limit its viability as an approach.
I recommend my physical therapy patients use the unloader for at least six months prior to adding the wedge to clarify if the unloader brace and/or wedge are improving or exacerbating their knees.  It just limits the confusion for the patient and probably improves the compliance if they really know if is improving their condition.
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Paramus, Ridgewood, and Bergen County region.  This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your physician before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative regimen.

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Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.

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