Arthritis Knee Support Braces

Arthritis or osteoarthritis of the knee causes abnormal wearing of the cartilage that covers the joints and also, reduction of the synovial fluid that lubricates those joints, which overall results in inflammation with severe pain in the joints and stiffness in the knee area. People suffering from knee arthritis have difficulty in movement and is often associated with a crackling sound, referred to as crepitus. It is the cartilage that provides a kind of cushioning to the bone ends that helps in smooth functioning of the bone movements. Wearing of cartilage results in rough surfaces of the joint ends and produces a creaking noise when they come in contact with each other. The symptoms of arthritis severely affect a person in his/her daily activities and leads to an uncomfortable life.

Symptoms of knee arthritis become worse if remain untreated and can lead to deformation of the knee. In severe cases, there may be chances of undergoing a knee replacement surgery. Treatment is usually done by following medication along with arthritis diet and physiotherapy. Exercise and weight control play an important role in the treatment of knee arthritis. Another helpful measure is wearing knee support braces for supporting and protecting the joints. They are more significant for treatment of one-side arthritis of the knee. Knee support braces reduce the pressure by altering the distribution of weight on the knee joints. They also provide proper alignment of the joints. Some of the types of knee support braces help in retaining the body heat, which helps in reducing the pain.

There are mainly three types of arthritis knee support braces, namely functional, rehabilitative, and unloader/offloader. Among these, functional and rehabilitative types are most effective and are being used widely. Functional braces are for people with injury in the knee area and those who have arthritis. They give support to the knee joints that have been injured and are proven to decrease pain and enhance the performance of the knee. People who have undergone knee arthroscopy are advised to use rehabilitative braces. They help in quick healing of the knee after an injury or a surgery. Unloader type reduces the pressure in the knee joints by changing the angle of the joints with special hinges. It is mostly seen that unloader braces decrease pain, increase ability to move the joints and in some cases, postpone the immediate need for knee replacement surgery. Patients who are obese should not use unloader type as there may have difficulty in fixing the braces.

Recent studies have found out that wearing knee support braces help in decreasing the pain on weight bearing and in addition increases the ability to walk for a longer distance. Based on the type of arthritis, different knee support braces are being recommended. Care should be taken while wearing the braces; it should be made sure that the hinges are adjusted where the knee bends so as to get maximum support. It is necessary for the user to check the braces regularly, whether they have been placed properly or not. Improper wearing of knee support braces can worsen the pain instead of healing the condition.

It is advisable to consult a qualified physician before using knee support braces as a part of treatment of knee arthritis because only a doctor can tell whether a patient really needs a knee support brace or not. The doctor will recommend buying the suitable size and type of knee support braces based on the severity of the knee arthritis. If pain increases after wearing the knee braces, immediately consult your concerned physician so as to avoid further complications.