Can Knee Bracing Help with Arthritis Pain?
Common Signs and Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Your knee feels stiff especially when you first wake up in the morning
- Your knee is painful all over
- Your knee is swollen after activity
- Your knee cracks, pops and makes other sounds when you bend or straighten it
- Sometimes your knees feels like it locks or is going to give out on you
If it does… your knee pain may be due to Osteoarthritis, aka Arthritis.
Knee arthritis is a condition where the cartilage and other tissues in your knee joint start to break down or “wear out” can cause pain, swelling and decreased range of motion over time.
Unfortunately, knee arthritis can also start to impact your daily life making it harder to do things you like to do. Although the cornerstones of knee arthritis treatment are exercise and physiotherapy, knee bracing may also help you get back to doing the things you love pain free!
There are hundreds of different types of braces but here is a simple list of knee braces that may help with your osteoarthritis.
Types of Knee Braces for Osteoarthritis
1. Sleeves
- These are the least supportive type of brace for knee osteoarthritis and are most appropriate for very mild osteoarthritis. This type of brace provides slight compression around the knee to reduce swelling, reduce pain pain and increase your awareness of your knee position.
- Sleeves are relatively inexpensive and can be found on the shelves of must pharmacies or medical supply stores.
2. Hinged Brace
- This type of knee brace provides much more structural support to your knee than a sleeve. Using hinges on either side of your knee, this type of brace makes sure your knee bends only in one direction which may reduce your knee pain.
- Off the shelf hinged knee braces are more expensive than sleeves but can still be easily found in many medical supply stores or online.
3. Custom Knee Brace
- As the name suggests, these types of braces are customed fit versions of the stand off the shelf hinged knee brace. This allows for a more comfortable and supportive fit for your specific knee.
- They are typically used after an ACL injury or surgery when you return to activity/sports
- Custom hinged knee braces must be sized and ordered by a professional and generally cost more than their off the shelf counterparts. Most insurance benefits plans cover the cost of custom braces.
4. Unloader Brace
- This is the most used knee brace for osteoarthritis linked knee pain. As osteoarthritis often impacts one side of the knee more than the other, this type of brace serves to “offload” the more affected side. This reduces pain and allows for healing to occur in the injured area.
- Unloader braces need to be sized by a professional to make sure it fits your knee properly, however there are custom and off-the-shelf unloaders available. Most insurance benefits plans cover the cost of custom unloader braces.
Unloader Braces We Carry
Breg Z-12 OA
Purpose: Mild to moderate arthritis
The Z-12 OA is for a patient with an active lifestyle who may also need additional support due to ligament instability (ACL, MCL, LCL). It features an adjustable dial to allow patients to increase or decrease the unloading correction by sliding the loading lever through seven setting. The Z-12 frame is made of magnesium – the lightest-weight OA brace made by Breg. It is recommended for all types of sports and activities including contact sports.
Breg Duo
Purpose: Mild to moderate arthritis
The DUO (Dynamic Unloading Osteoarthritis) brace is a lightweight dynamic brace with adjustable correction designed for individuals an active lifestyle. This unique brace actively unloads the arthritic part of the knee joint only when the patient is weight bearing, making it more comfortable to wear. The DUO is ideal for low and high impact activities, including contact sports.
Ossur Rebound Dual
Purpose: Mild to moderate arthritis
Rebound DUAL knee brace delivers support for arthritis and ligament instabilities in a single, versatile aluminum brace. Suitable for low-to-high impact activities as well as sliding sports. It offers adjustable correction
Breg Legacy Thruster
Purpose: Moderate to severe arthritis
The Legacy Thruster is a lightweight single-upright brace ideal for individuals who require the brace for prolonged periods throughout the day. This design is recommended for knee arthritis that is not associated with ligament instability. The adjustable dial allows incremental force adjustments to provide up to 22 degrees of correction. Ideal for moderate activities such as tennis, golf, hiking, etc.
Knee Bracing is just a Piece of The Puzzle…
Knee bracing can be extremely helpful when living with knee osteoarthritis. It can help reduce pain and swelling, improve healing and get you back to doing meaningful activities. However, knee bracing should never be the only treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
Time and time again exercise has been shown to be the best first line treatment for managing knee osteoarthritis. A qualified physiotherapist will create a customized exercise plan to supplement the relief you are getting from your knee brace.
If knee Osteoarthritis is stopping you from doing the things you love, and you believe a custom brace may be best for you, make sure a book an assessment with a registered physiotherapist at PhysioHealthPlus today!
Read our blog on 5 Ways Knee Bracing can Improve Your Pain here
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This blog was written by Luke Gregg, a Physiotherapy student at the University of Toronto
FAQ
How much do knee braces cost?
- The price of a knee brace can vary significantly. Most sleeve style braces are less than 50 dollars and basic hinged braces can be under 100 dollars
- Custom hinged braces and unloader braces are more expensive but are often covered under insurance plans
How long should I wear my knee brace for?
This depends on the type of knee brace you are wearing as well as the reason you are wearing it! As a rule, you should wear your knee brace anytime you are exercising or playing sports. Sometimes, your physiotherapist may recommend keeping your brace on during the day. Your physiotherapist will give you specific guidelines for when you should and should be wearing your brace.
How do I take care of my knee brace?
This is probably one of the most asked knee brace questions. While manufacturers may provide specific maintenance instructions, a few basic tips for keeping your knee brace in good condition include inspecting the brace frequently for wear, regularly cleaning it with soap to help maintain the fabric and keep it clean of bacteria and covering exposed metal.