Comparison of the Acute Effects of Two Neoprene Knee Sleeves on Balance and Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Prospective Study

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of 2 different elastic neoprene knee sleeves, 1 equipped with 4 metal supports, on balance and pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients (50 females, 10 males; age mean = 61.13 ± 8.6 years) diagnosed with KOA were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1(n = 30): wearing an elastic neoprene knee sleeve, and group 2 (n = 30): wearing a neoprene knee sleeve with 4 metal supports. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach Test, and Fall Index, calculated using posturography (Tetrax® ;), and the Visual Analogue Scale were employed for the assessment of balance and pain. Clinical assessments were performed before and after wearing the knee sleeves. The sample size was determined by power analysis using balance data (α = 0.05, power = 0.99). Results: Both groups exhibited statistically significant improvement in intragroup comparisons of all assessment parameters (P < .05). However, the changes in BBS score after wearing the knee sleeve were better in favor of group 2, approaching statistical significance (P= .056). Conclusion: Both types of neoprene knee sleeves provided immediate benefits in balance and pain among patients with KOA. While the neoprene knee sleeve with 4 metal supports showed slightly greater balance improvement, the difference was not statistically significant. Further longterm studies with larger samples are needed to clarify the effects of different knee sleeves on balance and pain in patients with KOA.