What is an Osteoarthritis Unloader Knee Brace?
Contrary to what the name of this brace may suggest, an unloader knee brace is not strictly for those who unload things from a truck or moving van but for anyone who may be diagnosed with OA (Osteoarthritis). According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), approximately 27 million American adults suffer from Osteoarthritis.
An unloader knee brace (also referred to as a medial unloader knee brace) unloads the stress from the affected knee. What makes an unloader knee brace effective is its ability to limit side to side movement within the knee and unload the weight to three pressure points on the femur. The brace is designed specifically in a way to force the knee to bend away from the most painful part of the knee. If one is suffering from inner knee pain (medial) the brace will shift the weight to the outer part of the knee (lateral) or vice versa.
What is Osteoarthritis?
OA is a condition in which the cartilage within your joints wears away with time. Osteoarthritis is often associated with older individuals because cartilage wears away naturally with time; however, OA is common in athletes who have had excessive wear and tear on their joints. The reduction of cartilage in your knee will likely allow bones to rub against each other causing pain, swelling, and extreme stiffness.
If you are suffering from knee stiffness when waking up, pain that only gets worse with activity, knee weakness, or a crunching sensation in the knee, you may be suffering from Osteoarthritis. A person suffering from medial compartment Osteoarthritis will have trouble keeping their knee stable even when doing simple tasks such as walking up a flight of stairs. A tell-tale sign that one may be suffering from this condition is if the knee wobbles inward toward the other knee.
Luckily, we offer numerous braces that are perfect for minimizing Osteoarthritis pain and making everyday life a lot more manageable.
Unloader Knee Brace Treatment
Though they are not exactly unloader knee braces, two of our most popular supports available for arthritis and osteoarthritis are the Neoprene Knee Sleeve and Hinged Knee Brace. These state of the art knee braces help reduce pain by providing therapeutic warmth and shifting strain off the most damaged portion of your knee. They also can improve your ability to get around and help you walk farther while minimizing osteoarthritis pain.
For more information and options, please visit our wide selection of knee braces.