This paper investigates the applicabilty of an innovative bracing, called Articulated Quadrilateral (AQ) bracing system, which uses shape memory alloys (SMAs), for retroffiting low-rise to high-rise vulnerable SMFRs against strong ground motions. The paper investigates brace fundamental engineering characteristics, design of the system and also configuration of the brace (the proportion of SMA ...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hollowing and bracing exercises on cross-sectional areas of abdominal muscles. [Subjects] Thirty healthy female adults participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were orthopedic or neurologic diseases. [Methods] The subjects of this study were assigned randomly to one of two groups, each with 15 people. Each group perform...

BACKGROUND Scoliotic curves do not necessarily stop progressing at skeletal maturity. The factors that influence curve behavior following bracing are not fully determined. Our objectives were to evaluate the loss of the scoliotic curve correction in a cohort of patients treated with bracing during adolescence and to compare the outcomes of 18 versus 23 h of bracing at a mean of 25 years post br...

BACKGROUND Bracing has been shown to decrease significantly the progression of high-risk curves to the threshold for surgery in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the treatment failure rate remains high. There is evidence to suggest that Schroth scoliosis-specific exercises can slow progression in mild scoliosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Schrot...

  Background: The aim of this study was to investigate muscle damage indicators and electromyography activities of quadriceps muscles at 25° of hip flexion in untrained healthy females after an eccentric exercise induced muscle fiber damage.   Methods : A total of 14 healthy females participated in this pre-experimental study. The subjects performed maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions at ...

The Ponseti method for the management of idiopathic clubfoot has recently experienced a rise in popularity, with several centers reporting excellent outcomes. The challenge in achieving a successful outcome with this method lies not in correcting deformity but in preventing relapse. The most common cause of relapse is failure to adhere to the prescribed postcorrective bracing regimen. Socioecon...

Abstract:   Previous research on bracing members show that the ductility of bracing members is compromised due to the buckling phenomena. Therefore, many researchers have tried to use special considerations to increase the fracture life of bracing members. Some of these recommendations such as increasing the slenderness ratio, using lower width to thickness ratio, increasing the out-of-p...

One of the methods for retrofitting reinforced concrete moment frames is the use of steel braces. In this research, the seismic performance of a double-skinned concrete framing system reinforced with two concentric (CBF) and eccentric (EBF) steel bracing, was investigated under seven near-fault earthquake records of varying intensity. For this purpose, two ten-story concrete frames with five sp...

Background A recently published NIH-funded study named “Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial” (BrAIST) affirmed the efficacy of bracing for moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and reduced surgical recommendations in braced patients. The implications of this study are numerous. BrAIST affirms the value of bracing, but also confirms the importance of wear time, and points t...

Methods We retrospectively observed 13 patients with the diagnosis of LS. 7 of them needed bracing because of lumbar kyphosis, while the others were treated only with physical exercises to control pain and prevent deformity. All patients treated with bracing (3 males and 4 females, average age 13.5 years) presented at first observation with back pain, lumbar kyphosis, and a radiographic image o...