Trial reportPloS one2025
Effectiveness and user experiences of a valgus brace in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A mixed-method randomised controlled trial.
Trial report in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Coumarins in musculoskeletal health: a systematic review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPatients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA) may benefit from wearing a valgus brace, but previous studies lacked consideration for brace wearing time, co-interventions and the brace users' perceptions. This mixed-method randomised controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of a valgus brace on knee pain and activity limitations alongside exploring user perceptions. MATERIALS AND
methodsParticipants randomised to the intervention group (n = 23) received regular care and a customisable valgus brace for 6 months while the participants randomised to the waitlist control group (n = 23) were allowed any regular care treatment except for a knee brace. Outcomes were evaluated with a multilevel linear regression analysis at baseline, 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. The primary outcome was knee pain intensity at 6 months measured by a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included walking distance, generic health status, knee functioning and satisfaction with the brace. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subsample of intervention group participants and transcripts were analysed using deductive thematic analysis.
resultsAfter 6 months, only a statistically significant and clinically important difference of 2.13 cm (95% CI -3.57 to -0.69) on the VAS score for knee pain intensity after a walk test was found between the intervention and control groups. Although the qualitative findings echoed some participants' negative or mixed feelings about the brace, several participants perceived positive changes in pain, other body functions, during activities and had positive user experiences.
conclusionUsing a valgus brace decreased knee pain intensity during walking activities. Although other outcomes showed limited effectiveness, the study's underpowered nature increased the risk of type II errors. Qualitative data highlighted positive user experiences, suggesting potential benefits beyond the measured quantitative outcomes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.