All of the low back braces available today are fabricated to provide anteriorly or posteriorly directed forces . None accomplishes satisfactory immobilization, and, in fact, braces with a high thoraco-lumbar purchase area increase lumbosacral motion (1) . Attempts to improve the lumbar immobilization by applying increased abdominal pressure are useful to a limited degree, as in the Williams bra...

In the structural optimization problem, the aim is to decrease the amount of structural costs and weight, but the safety of platform should not violate the individual limits enforced by offshore codes. The outer diameter and thickness of members are two important variables in the optimization process and their final dimensions should be obtained according to the optimization algorithms such as ...

Cross-bracing (X-bracing) is one of the most popular methods of seismic retrofitting, and has been shown to significantly increase the structural stiffness and strength of buildings. Conventional steel X-bracing methods typically exhibit brittle failure at the connection between the brace and the building, or buckling failure of the braces. This study investigated the structural properties of a...

1 1 Based upon a recent study at the Veterans Administration Prosthetics Center. Administration Brooklyn Outpatient Clinic, who suggested that his patient "be fitted as a below-knee amputee." The Veterans Administration has many beneficiaries who suffer from an inability to bear weight on their feet. Etiologies include gunshot wounds, crushing injuries, painful ankylosis, arthritis, and other c...

OBJECTIVES Tolerance induction to prevent development of nickel allergy has been suggested with permanent dental braces. We wanted to find out which effect orthodontic treatments had had on the development of nickel allergy in university students. STUDY DESIGN We examined and patch tested 153 students, of whom 113 had a history of pierced skin, and 70 a history of orthodontic treatment roughl...

Abnormal patellofemoral joint motion is a possible cause of patellofemoral pain, and patellar braces are thought to alleviate pain by restoring normal joint kinematics. We evaluated whether females with patellofemoral pain exhibit abnormal patellofemoral joint kinematics during dynamic, weight-bearing knee extension and assessed the effects of knee braces on patellofemoral motion. Real-time mag...