Braces News and Research

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Evidence remains insufficient to support routine use of lumbar braces for chronic low back pain

A new Cochrane review finds very low-quality evidence on lumbar supports for chronic low back pain, meaning that no strong recommendations can be made either for or against their use.

1 Sep 2026

$2 million NIH funding supports wearable knee exoskeleton research

Building on the success of projects to boost strength by adding motors to conventional knee, hip and ankle braces, a University of Michigan team is exploring how well this approach could work for relieving knee pain from osteoarthritis.

1 Jun 2026

PSMA PET/CT scan may halve unnecessary prostate biopsies

An imaging test could safely halve the number of people who need a biopsy for suspected prostate cancer following inconclusive or reassuring results from an MRI scan, new research has found.

12 Mar 2026

Clear aligners protect oral microbiome better than fixed braces

Researchers compare the effects of clear aligners and fixed appliances on oral microbiota and oxidative stress in the oral cavity.

4 Feb 2026

Why female athletes need injury prevention rules built for women, not men

This International Olympic Committee consensus synthesised evidence from over 600 studies to develop 56 injury prevention recommendations tailored to female, woman and girl athletes. It concludes that reducing injury risk requires a whole sports system approach that integrates training, policy, environment and culture, not exercise alone.

8 Dec 2025

New adaptive finger brace could improve recovery for joint injuries

A friend's struggles with arthritis and the finger braces used to manage it inspired research by a Carnegie Mellon University student that could make it easier for patients to follow rehabilitation plans, speed up recovery times and help people manage chronic conditions.

14 Oct 2025

California’s health insurance marketplace braces for chaos as shutdown persists

California this week plans to notify Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees that their costs could rise sharply next year unless Congress extends subsidies to help people buy health insurance.

14 Oct 2025

Uneven tooth color matters more than whiteness for young adults

White teeth are highly valued by young adults. But an even tooth color is considered to be of even higher importance.

17 Sep 2025

New meta-analysis highlights effective non-drug therapies for knee osteoarthritis

Knee braces, water therapy and exercise are the most promising non-drug therapies for treating knee osteoarthritis, according to a new meta-analysis publishing June 18, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Yuan Luo of the First People's Hospital of Neijiang, China.

19 Jun 2025

Detecting balance impairments early could prevent life-threatening falls

As we get older, our bodies stop performing as they once did. We aren't as strong as we once were, we don't see as well as we used to and we start becoming less mobile.

23 May 2025

Study reveals cloth masks rival some medical masks, but only N95s deliver near-total protection

A PLOS ONE study tested the real-world filtration efficiency of cloth masks, medical masks, and respirators, revealing large differences in performance based on fit and mask type. Only N95s and CaN99s approached occupational safety standards without formal fit-testing.

23 Apr 2025

Urgent CDC data and analyses on influenza and bird flu go missing as outbreaks escalate

Sonya Stokes, an emergency room physician in the San Francisco Bay Area, braces herself for a daily deluge of patients sick with coughs, soreness, fevers, vomiting, and other flu-like symptoms.

14 Feb 2025

New California laws target medical debt, AI care decisions, detention centers

As the nation braces for potential policy shifts under President-elect Donald Trump's "Make America Healthy Again" mantra, the nation's most populous state and largest health care market is preparing for a few changes of its own.

16 Jan 2025

Many polio survivors face lifelong late effects

Polio survivors facing the little-known late effects of the disease are being overlooked, writes Neena Bhandari.

23 Oct 2024

Researchers discover how rare cell type controls scar tissue formation in spinal cord injuries

After a spinal cord injury, nearby cells quickly rush to action, forming protective scar tissue around the damaged area to stabilize and protect it.

18 Sep 2024

WHO and IPC collaborate to promote global access to assistive technology during Paris 2024 Paralympics

The World Health Organization (WHO) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are joining forces to highlight the transformative impact of assistive technology on sports during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

28 Aug 2024

‘A bottomless pit’: How out-of-pocket TMJ costs drive patients into debt

Over three decades of relentless pain, Jonna Tallant has tried about every TMJ treatment: mouthguards, six sets of braces, dental crowns and appliances, drugs, physical therapy, Botox, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and surgery.

11 Jul 2024

TOMI Environmental Solutions supports partners and customers to combat global avian influenza (H5N1) bird flu outbreak

TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc.® (“TOMI”), a global company specializing in disinfection and decontamination utilizing its premier Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) platform through its SteraMist brand of products, today announced that the Company is working closely with customers and partners to support efforts to combat a current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) that is causing widespread disruption globally.

19 Jun 2024

The horrors of TMJ: Chronic pain, metal jaws, and futile treatments

A TMJ patient in Maine had six surgeries to replace part or all of the joints of her jaw.

4 Apr 2024

A covid test Medicare scam may be a trial run for further fraud

Medicare coverage for at-home covid-19 tests ended last week, but the scams spawned by the temporary pandemic benefit could have lingering consequences for seniors.

18 May 2023