For over 25 years it is known that the roll structure of electroconvection (EC) in the dielectric regime in planarly aligned nematic liquid crystals has, after a transition to defect chaos, the tendency to form chevron structures. We show, with the help of a coarse-grained model, that this effect can generally be expected for systems with spontaneously broken isotropy, that is lifted by a small...

The interplay between set-theoretic solutions of the Yang--Baxter equation Mathematical Physics, skew braces, regular subgroups, and Hopf--Galois structures has spawned a considerable body literature in recent years. In paper, Alan Koch generalised construction Lindsay N.~Childs, showing how one can obtain bi-skew braces $(G, \cdot, \circ)$ from an endomorphism group \cdot)$ whose image is abel...

BACKGROUND For persons with unicompartment knee osteoarthritis (OA), off-unloader braces are a mechanical intervention designed to reduce pain, improve physical function, and possibly slow disease progression. Pain relief is thought to be mediated by distracting the involved compartment via external varus or valgus forces applied to the knee. In so doing, tibiofemoral alignment is improved, and...

PURPOSE In children with cerebral palsy (CP), braces are used to counteract progressive joint and muscle contracture and improve function. We examined the effects of positional ankle-foot braces on contracture of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and gait in children with CP while referencing to typically developing children. METHODS Seventeen independently ambulant children with CP and calf musc...

Introduction Gait modification is frequently used as conservative management in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Knee orthoses, such as knee sleeves and unloader knee braces, are nonpharmacological treatment for gait modification in symptomatic knee OA. Previous studies lack systematic investigation of biomechanical effect and functional capacity, particularly walking capacity. This study investigated...

Methods So far, 4 AIS patients were recruited. Two braces were built for each patient: 1) a standard TLSO designed using the plaster-cast method (Std Brace), and 2) a brace designed and fabricated using a biomechanical 3D finite element model personalized to the patient’s geometry, and a CAD/CAM software (NewBrace). NewBrace was optimized using a computational brace simulator that allows virtua...

Braces and splints can be useful for acute injuries, chronic conditions, and the prevention of injury. There is good evidence to support the use of some braces and splints; others are used because of subjective reports from patients, relatively low cost, and few adverse effects, despite limited data on their effectiveness. The unloader (valgus) knee brace is recommended for pain reduction in pa...

BACKGROUND Knee osteoarthritis is a musculoskeletal condition which is most prevalent in the medial compartment. This injury causes considerable pain, disability, and negative changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters. The efficiency of unloader valgus brace as a conservative treatment for medial knee osteoarthritis is not well documented. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to review the ...

BACKGROUND The current increase in types of scoliosis braces defined by a surname or a town makes scientific classification essential. Currently, it is a challenge to compare braces and specify the indications of each brace. A precise definition of the characteristics of current braces is needed. As such, the International Society for Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) m...

Introduction: The load-dependent collageneous fiber organization in the joint cartilage determines the biomechanical properties of this tissue. It has been shown that the deformation mechanisms of the collagen network under compressive load depend on the morphological and structural intactness of the cartilage [1, 2]. Thus, the analysis of load-reactions of joint cartilage could be a successful...