Exo-Performance Knee Brace

Military personnel have suggested that current knee braces are bulky and difficult to wear underneath their uniform and lead to performance loss. Methods of reducing and treating knee injuries have changed with the development and improvement of knee braces over time. A significant problem yet to be addressed in the current design of knee braces is the number of people that experience performance limitations and discomfort while braced. Most knee brace frames incorporate standard bilateral, polycentric hinges, which provide a stabilizing force to the flexion and extension of the knee. While this method attempts to mimic the joint’s natural movement, it falls short in allowing the knee to rotate internally and externally. During the last 30° of extension, either the tibia or femur must externally or internally rotate approximately 10°. While this rotation may seem small, it remains essential for the healthy motion of the knee and maximal performance. Rotation must occur to achieve full flexion and extension. If either the tibia or femur is held in a fixed position, this can alter the mechanics of the knee and lead to an increased chance of injury. By eliminating the joint’s ability to rotate, the brace begins to fight against the joint’s proper motion, decreasing the ability of the service member to move with fluidity and increasing the risk of brace migration and injury. Additionally, available market options do not allow for the natural pistoning effect (lengthening and shortening of the frame) the brace undergoes when the leg flexes and extends. Without the allowance for rotation or pistoning, there is a need to continuously adjust the brace’s fit as migration of the frame down the leg occurs frequently.  ARYSE has incorporated a unique technology, referred to as functional stability, into the proposed knee-injury-reduction technology. Current bracing standards cause joint restriction, resulting in a transfer of injury risk to other joints within the kinetic chain. The functional-stability technology maintains the proper anatomical kinetic chain and offers optimal support without inhibiting performance by mimicking the body’s natural movements. Moving the way the body moves and protecting the way the body protects, the VAPOR KNEE and VAPOR LITE KNEE are the only dynamic knee stabilizers that include essential rotation and pistoning. They join the already existing exo-performance product line offered by ARYSE.