Importance

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Abstract

A unilateral knee brace is provided with pliable, non-extensible tension members which are connected to the brace and are placed in tension and resist opening of the knee at the medial side of the knee. The preferred tension members are X-shaped straps which are crossed at the knee joint. More specifically, the knee brace has a hinged support including pivotally-connected upper and lower plate members extending above and below a wearer's knee. The hinged support is secured to the wearer's leg by upper and lower cuffs which encircle lateral or outside portions of the wearer's leg above and below the knee. The hinged support is positioned on a lateral or outside portion of the wearer's leg. The brace further includes a pliable support of non-elastic, stretch-resistant straps extending between the cuffs, and positioned opposite the hinged support on a medial or inner portion of a wearer's leg. Upper and lower free ends of the pliable support straps are connected to the hinged support plates. The non-elastic pliable straps maintain knee stiffness against medially-directed forces.

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First Claim