Osteoarthritis of the knee is a debilitating condition affecting increasing numbers of individuals each year. One option for treatment is orthotic knee braces, but a little independent reviews have taken place to date on their relative outcomes for users. This study therefore evaluates the efficacy of different types of knee ORTHOSES (braces) with regard to key aspects of use, including gait parameters, mobility and levels of comfort and compliance in subjects presenting with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The collated data is presented with relevant supporting literature and appropriate descriptions in relation to each knee orthosis type that was identified, within appropriate subsections with advantages and disadvantages appropriately allocated. An analysis of each brace as presented by the corresponding article is then described further in terms of the design and structure, user outcomes and assessment summaries. According to the study carried out in this paper, it is presented and proved that applying the use of knee braces can reduce the knee adduction moment (KAM), but the amount of reduction afforded varies between designs. All of the studies reported significant pain reduction and functional improvement with the use of a knee brace, although their effect on the knee joint range of motion vary. Knee braces long-term use depends upon high levels of comfort and patient compliance, and further studies need to be conducted on larger numbers of subjects over greater time periods to reflect the long-term outcomes accurately.

Dear Editor, Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a damage to spinal cord that results in loss of function, mobility and sensation below the level at which the spinal cord has been injured.

Background: Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is one of the common disorders in humans. Despite recommended treatments, there is no definite therapy for this disorder. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review scientific reports on the effects of orthotic devices for treatment (comparing ORTHOSES with other treatments related to lateral epicondylitis parameters), reducing complications, and improving symptoms of this condition. Methods: Ovid, Scopus, and Web of science were searched to identify studies which reported the effectiveness of orthotic treatment for lateral epicondylitis from 1996 until 2017. Studies were collected based on the inclusion criteria and a few were selected out of a large number of studies. The PEDro scale was used for the quality assessment of the selected articles. Results: A total of 43 articles were chosen, 16 articles on Orthotics vs. other nonsurgical treatments, 20 articles on the comparison of different orthotics, and 7 reviews. Conclusion: Based on the results of the selected papers, there was not sufficient evidence to decide on the effectiveness among several ORTHOSES or for comparing orthotic treatment with other treatment methods. However, it should be emphasized that the use of orthosis can be an acceptable treatment for improving some symptoms of this condition such as pain, grip, pain-free grip, no pain, grip strength, function, ROM, and proprioception.