pISSN : 3058-6941 eISSN: 3058-695X
Open Access, Peer-reviewed
pISSN : 3058-6941 eISSN: 3058-695X
Open Access, Peer-reviewed
Byung-Il Yang,Jung-Woo Jeong,Jae-Hoon Jeong,Shin-Kyu Park,Sung-Ryong MA
http:dx.doi.org/10.17817/JCMSH.2025.29.2.4 Epub 7th July, 2025
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and apply 3D printerbased customized orthotic devices (3DPCO) that reflect the individual biomechanical characteristics of patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis (DKO). Methods In this study, 14 patients clinically diagnosed with degenerative knee osteoarthritis participated. The study was divided into two groups to compare the functional changes between an experimental group that received a 3D printerbased customized orthosis with osteoarthritis rehabilitation exercises and a control group that performed only osteoarthritis rehabilitation exercises. Both groups underwent training for 40 minutes per day, five times a week, over a 12week period. Results In the withingroup comparison of the research group, the Rearfoot Angle (RFA), which evaluates calcaneal alignment, decreased from 12.71 ± 4.03° before the intervention to 8.57 ± 2.23°, but this change was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the Relative Arch Height, which quantifies the medial longitudinal arch (MLA), increased significantly from 3.35 ± 0.72 mm to 3.78 ± 0.73 mm (p < 0.05). Conclusion The present study confirmed that a 3D printerbased customized orthosis for patients with degenerative osteoarthritis can serve as an effective intervention method by improving the alignment of the ankle and foot and alleviating the pathological mechanism of the knee joint.
Keywords
Degenerative knee osteoarthritis 3D printerbased customized orthotic devices Degenerative knee osteoarthritis exercise program Foot arch
