| 摘要 |
A knee brace functions to extensionally center and thereby enhance patellar function. The brace comprises an upper bracket assembly, a lower bracket assembly, and certain torsional spring assemblies. The upper and lower bracket assemblies comprise leg-receiving bracket portions and certain axial support structure extending from the bracket portions to bracket junctions. Each spring assembly comprises a torsional spring element and an elastically compressible core element. The torsional spring elements compressibly receive the core elements. The torsional spring elements are actuable for imparting restorative resistance forces, and the core elements function to damp the restorative resistance forces. The damped restorative resistance forces function to safely enhance quadriceps muscle contraction during knee extension. The enhanced quadriceps muscle contraction functions to center the patella during knee extension, and thereby enhance patellar function. The brace may be attached to an anchored leg-covering garment for further restricting axial displacement relative to the leg.
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