Efficiency of knee braces: A biomechanical approach based on computational modeling

Knee orthotic devices are widely proposed by physicians and medical practitioners for preventive or therapeutic objectives in relation with their effects, usually known as to stabilize joint or restrict ranges of motion. The objectives of this work are to characterize the performance of knee orthoses using a Finite Element Model of a braced human leg. The interface properties of the model are calibrated against experimental data measured by full-field measurements of 3D displacement over the surface of a patient’s leg. The results show that the mechanical action of knee braces is essentially limited by skin/fabric and skin/muscles sliding. Finally, the model leads to a better understanding of the knee/brace interaction, and of the role of the brace components on the stability of the injured knee. Thanks to this computational tool, novel brace designs can be tested and evaluated for an optimal mechanical efficiency of the devices.