An unloader knee brace is one amongst many forms of knee braces which will offer stability, support, and pain relief if you’ve got knee osteoarthritis affecting primarily only one aspect of your knee joint. They design this type of knee brace to transfer pressure within the knee, “unloading” one side of the joint to the opposite. An unloader knee brace shifts the stress from the affected aspect of the joint to the healthier aspect of the joint.
Using an unloader knee brace might offer you with enough comfort to enhance your mobility and diminish your pain, whereas at rest. It doesn’t cure or reverse degenerative joints disease or any other disease of the joints.
How an Unloader Knee Brace Works?
The unloader knee brace is a custom-formed brace made from molded plastic, foam, and steel struts to secure your knee joint, and inhibit side movement of the joint. It fits all the way around the leg at the level of your knee joint and permits flexibility for movement. They design it to place three points of pressure on the thigh bone, which forces the knee to bend faraway from the painful area of the joint. Some versions will unload the knee’s medial (inner) or lateral (outer) aspect just by adjusting the unloading hinge.
Benefits From an Unloader Knee Brace
Researches indicate that unloader knee braces can delay knee replacement surgery if you have only one side osteoarthritis. It is a cost-effective approach that offers pain relief without side effects. It can also improve knee pain and stability associated with knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Professionals from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) have studied whether the unloader knee brace can help people who have medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Using norms that comprise knee pain, stiffness, self-reported functional capability, and physical performance. The AAOS suggestion for a medical compartment unloading knee brace is inconclusive. Therefore, a knee brace can support some individuals with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis to delay surgery.
4 Best Unloader Knee Brace
1. Ossur Unloader One Arthritis Knee Brace
Unloader One® is a comfortable, lightweight, low-profile knee brace with great suspension and unloading leverage. Using Össur’s clinically proven 3-Points of Leverage, the Dual Dynamic Force Straps are easily fine-tuned using the SmartDosing® system. Recent research shows that Unloader One reduces pain, improves function and decreases the use of pain medication.
You can wear Unloader One for your daily activities. Clinically proven to reduce the pain associated with unicompartmental mild to severe osteoarthritis of the knee, they design this brace for average to high-impact activities, indoors and outdoors. It can further help reduce your dependence on pain medication and ward off negative side effects. You can use it while walking, hiking, running, cycling and more on. Color-coded Quick Fit buckles simplify application and removal process.
Measurement: Thigh circumferences of 13.5” to 29” and calf circumferences of 9.8” to 24”
2. OA Unloading Brace Lateral (Orthomen)
Designed to reduce knee pain caused by unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee and often helps delay the need for surgery. The unloading/offloader one (OR036) is a convenient, lightweight, low-profile brace with three points of leverage for diminishing pressure outside the knee joint.
It’s universal sizing (Left/Right) that easily fits on everyone. The strapping structure provides for full change but a quick and easy application. Mild to severe unicompartmental osteoarthritis and ideal for unilateral compartment OA knee users.
3. Superior Braces OA Brace
The Unloader knee brace could be a top-rated osteoarthritis knee brace. It’s standard design and practicality simply sets it apart from similar knee braces that promise correct knee unloading; However, do not quite hit the mark. they create the osteoarthritis Unloading knee brace of an industrial-grade plastic shell with neoprene-wrapped breathable padding for radical support and luxury. on the market for both lateral and medial osteoarthritis knee issues, the osteoarthritis Unloading brace could be a top marketer for osteoarthritis knee pain sufferers. and conjointly for arthritis knee pain and meniscal cartilage derangement.
Features:
- Single strapping style helps accomplish an ideal match
- The light-weight brace provides three points of leverage to cut back pressure within the knee.
- Ideal for unilateral compartment OA knee users
- Valgus and varus adjustment to suit the individual’s alignment
- Universal – it will match one size to most patients.
- Medial is supported at the center of the knee / Lateral is supported on the outside of the knee
Instruction to Use:
Open all straps and step through the brace. With leg slightly bent, center hinge one (1) inch on top of the highest of the kneecap. Push hinge slightly back behind the midline of the knee. Attach the primary strap label on the number system shown on the straps. Pull the strap on prime of the knee area, ensuring its cozy. Attach all the straps on the buckle, ensuring its cozy. stand up and walk, ensuring it’s not too tight or too loose.
Hand washes in cold water with delicate soap. Air dry far from heat. do not tumble dry. do not bleach.
4. Levitation®2 Knee Brace
Levitation®2 is the world’s first bionic knee brace by Spring Loaded Technology. This brace can significantly reduce pressure throughout your knee while powering your leg muscles; therefore, you can work harder, play longer, and do more than you ever thought possible. Levitation stores energy as you bend your leg, and returns that energy to assist with leg extension. Independent analysis has shown that the Levitation Tri-Compartment Unloader™ system can decrease knee joint loads by up to 64%. Whether you’re living with osteoarthritis or getting back from a knee injury, bionic knee braces might ease your pain and enhance your mobility. Designed to help diminish joint compression and support with standing from a seated position, crouching, bending, kneeling, descending stairs, squatting, or walking. Best adopted by patients with fewer than 7 degrees of varus or valgus alignment.
Levitation performs best in activities involving you to bend or straighten your knees while weight-bearing. The Levitation knee brace possesses two modes: low-power mode and high power mode. You can change your brace to low-power mode whenever you feel that you don’t need it or if it’s interfering with non-weight bearing movements. You can customize the level of assist and the range of motion before the assist activates using an Allen key.
According to Spring Loaded
- 95% of users with knee osteoarthritis report decreased pain since applying a Spring Loaded knee brace
- Up to 64% devaluation in joint load across the whole knee (tibiofemoral and patellofemoral compartments)
- 85% of users with knee osteoarthritis report enhanced mobility since accepting a Spring Loaded knee brace