An Overview of Unloader Knee Braces

In the US, over 10 million people suffer from arthritis in the knee known as osteoarthritis, which is the wear and tear type of arthritis. Treatments for arthritis of the knee are designed to avoid the last resort which is a knee replacement. Why? A knee replacement is one of the most successful procedures in surgery today with regards to improving quality of life. However, it is not designed to last forever, so if it can be delayed that is best.

It is not a good idea to just stop doing activities. That may help a bit, but the knee actually needs activity to help promote cartilage health. Our joints are designed for being used, not ignored!

One of the methods that are used non-operatively for knee arthritis includes knee bracing. There are three areas of the knee, called compartments, where arthritis develops. There is one on the inside, called the medial compartment, and the outside one is called the lateral compartment. The third one sits between the kneecap and the joint, known as the patello-femoral compartment.

Typically, knee arthritis involves one compartment more than others. This is known as uni-compartmental arthritis.

The most affected compartment with arthritis is the medial compartment. There is a specific kind of brace known as an unloading knee brace which is designed to take pressure off the arthritic region. Other names for the brace are an "offloader" or "offloading" or "unloading" brace.

Unloading braces are custom designed and made of a combination of plastic, foam, and steel struts. They work on three pressure points to unload the arthritic area from stress on the inside of the knee to the outside part where arthritis is not as severe.

Studies looking at offloading braces have shown that they do help considerably with decreasing pain and improving function. The unloading braces are often covered by insurance and need to be custom fitted. That way they can be tailored to the individual patient's anatomy and needs.

The braces serve a "load sharing" purpose by absorbing the stresses during the realignment. They can be slightly bulky, so consideration is necessary of whether to wear the brace outside the pants or under loose clothing.

A treatment program consisting of physical therapy, medications such as NSAIDS, injections into the joint, along with the bracing can put patients into a new realm of a pain free existence.

Undergoing a total knee replacement is a quality of life procedure and is typically very successful. There are risks associated with the procedure and it is not designed to last forever. It should be considered a last resort, however, and bracing fits nicely into a non-operative regimen designed to keep patients out of the operating room.