Is NuNee Right For Your Patient?
The NuNee brace is a unique bracing system. Unlike common compression braces, sleeves, and straps, NuNee relieves pressure on the patellar joint with the application of gentle anterior distraction. This unique and highly effective design makes it worth consideration for any patient suffering from anterior knee pain, including Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), Patellar Tendinitis, Chondromalacia, and Patellar Osteoarthritis.
From diagnosis through completion of a comprehensive treatment plan, NuNee can relieve joint pressure and associated pain, accelerating the patients ability to perform exercise therapy without pain. As the clinical trial results revealed, NuNee can augment the rehab process and significantly improve the chance of a successful outcome for your patients.
How to Determine if NuNee is Right for Your Client
- Is there pain in or around the patella? The NuNee brace works particularly well if the location of the pain is around the patella or around the patellar tendon.
- Does your client experience patellar pain when he/she sits down or stands up? Better yet, does the pain improve during sitting or standing if you use your hand or thumb to push the patella either medially or laterally? If so, the NuNee brace may be helpful.
- Does your client have a positive McConnell’s Test? If so, the NuNee brace may be helpful.
- Does your client have pain in or around the patella or patellar tendon that worsens when going up or down stairs? If so, the NuNee brace may be helpful.
- Does your client have patellar pain or patellar tendon pain when performing exercises such as knee bends, lunges or running? If so, the NuNee brace maybe helpful.
- Is there a diagnosis of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), Patellar Tendinitis, Patellar Tendinosis or Chondromalacia? If so, the NuNee brace maybe helpful.
When to Use NuNee
The NuNee brace is uniquely designed to help treat common knee disorders that specifically affect the patellofemoral joint or the patellar tendon. There are many different disorders that can affect the knee and cause pain. This brace is not designed to address any and all pathologies or disorders, but it’s designed to uniquely address pain associated with the patella.
- Pain on the side of the leg or Iliotibial (IT) band area.
- Pain deep inside the knee or behind the knee.
- Locking, clunking or instability within the knee.
- A knee that is red, painful, and swollen all of the time.
- Any type of known infection, injury or fracture.
Why NuNee for Rehabilitation Clients
The NuNee brace is specifically designed to be worn during activities such as running, biking, walking, hiking or playing basketball.
Clinically, the NuNee brace can also be worn during physical therapy and physical training while performing rehabilitative exercises. The decreased pain associated with wearing the brace allows for an accelerated rehabilitation program. With the patellofemoral joint moving more freely without pain, your clinical rehabilitation protocol can be accelerated allowing for a rapid, pain free, and long-term recovery. It allows the client to perform the needed rehabilitation activities that address the root cause of the pain, yet provides immediate pain reduction without risk to the client. The NuNee brace can be used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol while allowing an accelerated return to sports or physical activities.
Photos show the original NuNee brace (v1.0).
Physical Therapist, runner, and CrossFitter Ben Shatto, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS reports having his clients utilize the NuNee brace while performing various fitness activities including their physical therapy exercises. He recommends a trial of the NuNee brace for all his clients that experience pain associated with the patella (knee cap).
Ben states, “I can progress my clients more quickly during treatment sessions if they wear the NuNee brace. It allows them to progress with less pain and irritation which ultimately leads to less inflammation and a quicker recovery time.”
What Makes NuNee Different and Worth Trialing
Patellofemoral pain is a common condition treated in physical therapy and rehabilitation clients worldwide. Finding the root cause of the pain can be difficult given the multiple possible origins to the knee dysfunction.
However, your client is typically not only seeking a root cause analysis, but also relief from his/her anterior knee pain. Opioids and anti-inflammatories may be used, but are not appropriate for all clients. Opioids and anti-inflammatories can be fraught with possible side effects and issues depending on your client. Topical analgesics and electrical stimulation, such as TENs units, tend to have only a short-lived effect (if any affect at all). Other types of bracing that utilize buttresses to adjust patellar tracking are not only bulky and uncomfortable, but are only marginally effective.
The NuNee brace is easy to apply which makes it an easy option to trial within the clinic. If effective, it gives your client an immediate tool to be used. It not only can decrease pain, but it can allow a speedy return to activity. It allows the client to perform the prescribed rehabilitation exercises without increasing pain. This allows for the rehabilitation professional to truly assist in addressing possible root causes of the pain while helping the client gain immediate pain relief. The NuNee can be an empowering tool.
The NuNee brace is sold in compact packaging which takes up very little space. You can easily keep the product on hand and sell directly to your clients. This gives them an immediate tool while allowing an additional revenue source for you. The “one size fits most” approach allows for easy and quick fitting for nearly every client. NuNee can be the perfect tool when combined with clinical knowledge and the appropriate long term treatment approach.
