Do hip-abduction braces work?-A biomechanical evaluation of a commercially available hip brace.

Introduction: Dislocations of the hip joint are a common and clinically relevant complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Hip-abduction braces are currently used following operative or non-operative treatment of THA dislocations to prevent re-dislocations. However, the clinical and biomechanical effectiveness of such braces is still controversial.

The Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board can be used as a portable and low-cost posturography system with good agreement compared to established systems.

Background: Almost all epidemiological studies over the past 40 years have determined that the incidence of fragility fractures is increasing. Therefore, the assessment of postural stability and monitoring any progress during balance training for geriatric patients to prevent falls are becoming more important. The Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board, with its integrated software and scoring system, might be a cheap and easily accessible tool for this purpose.