“An orthopedic dream has come true”

life: Which treatment goals are behind the idea for the Coxa Train?

Prof. Hess: Osteoarthritis of the hip cannot be cured. But we can do something about the symptoms. Many people are suffering from this condition, and we want to alleviate their pain and improve function. They should be able to go for a walk, work, exercise and lead an active life – using a brace they can put on themselves and wear long-term. That was the goal.

Why was this type of hip brace only developed now?

Prof. Hess: There’s nothing similar on the market. That shows what a huge challenge it was. None of my colleagues believed in the idea. But I knew from extension therapy that there are ways in which a joint can be relieved using tension. The moving Trochanter Pad with its impact on the joint capsule and hip-guiding muscles is a real innovation. But it was also important to include the sacroiliac joints (SI joints) during development.

Hips and SI joints – what’s the connection?

Prof. Hess: Many hip patients also suffer from SI joint problems. All hip movements influence the lower spine. We know from studies and practical experience that a brace like the SacroLoc, which sits on the connection between the pelvis and the spine, stabilizes the pelvis and also helps patients with osteoarthritis of the hip. We incorporated these insights into the Coxa Train.

One of the crucial active principles of the Coxa Train is its friction massage. Why is that?

Prof. Hess: Hip patients often suffer from muscle tension. The friction massage counteracts these imbalances with the help of trigger points on the gluteus medius, the hip muscle required for movement – this has positive effects on muscle tone, pain relief and the ability to walk.

What impression do you have of the Coxa Train?

Prof. Hess: We’ve broken new ground for a non-surgical, previously inconceivable solution that allows us to alleviate pain and improve joint function as well as the ability to walk. Serious clinical studies have shown: an orthopedic dream has come true.

Coxa Train hip brace: Support for kinesiotherapy

The Coxa Train alleviates pain and reduces muscular imbalances in cases of osteoarthritis of the hip, rheumatoid arthritis and impingement syndrome. It combines different active principles that are triggered during movement.

The Coxa Train consists of a pelvis support and thigh support that are connected via a laterally positioned joint splint. The elastic pelvic support is tightened using tensioning straps. This generates circular compression that stabilizes the pelvic girdle and relieves the sacroiliac joints (SI joints). During movement, two dorsal SI joint friction pads massage the local ligament structures and the muscles of the lower lumbar spine. This relieves pain in the lumbosacral junction and helps compensate muscular imbalances in the lumbar, pelvic and hip region.

Individually adjustable

The thigh support can be height-adjusted using a locking mechanism on the joint splint. If required, flexion and extension of the hinge can be restricted in three positions (60°, 75°, 90°) using limitation pins to provide protection.

Muscle-relaxing Gluteal Pad 

Another viscoelastic friction pad is attached laterally inside the pelvic support using Velcro: the Gluteal Pad (see image on the top right). It features three high grooved nubs and exerts a transverse massage on trigger points across the muscle fibers during movement. This relaxes the gluteal muscles, particularly the part of the gluteus medius that is involved in hip extension.

Moving Trochanter Pad

The Trochanter Pad is attached on the eccentric hinge above the trochanter cushion at the height of the tendon insertions of the hip muscles to protect the bony protrusion. Its innovative feature: the viscoelastic pad moves cyclically up and down during walking. This exerts an intermittent compression massage on the soft tissue above the greater trochanter. The friction relaxes the muscles carrying out the movement. When walking, the unloaded leg experiences pressure-reducing traction in the hip joint.

Images: Bauerfeind, Bauerfeind USA/Scott Borjeson, Andreas Wetzel