If you are an active individual, but suffer from knees that are 20 years older than you are, there is some potential help in a type of brace referred to as an "unloader" knee brace.
An "unloader" knee brace does exactly what it describes. The brace "unloads" or "off-loads" the knee in patients suffering from unicompartmental osteoarthritis. This is the wear and tear type of arthritis which comes with age, excessive activity over your life time, and hereditary predisposition to develop arthritis.
There are two compartments in the knee. They are referred to as the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) compartments. In the majority of cases, the medial compartment of the knee bears the brunt of physical trauma over time. The joint actually begins to collapse, losing both joint fluid and cartilage causing an angular deviation in the knee. An x-ray may show a bowing in the knee and leg because of this collapse. When the collapse is in the medial compartment, it is referred to as a varus deformity (bowing). When the collapse is in the lateral compartment, it is referred to as a valgus deformity (knock knee). This causes "bone on bone" contact between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (leg bone) resulting in pain, swelling and reduced range of motion.
An "unloader" knee brace bends the knee back into a more neutral or straighter position, and reduces the compressive load on that side. This results in less bone on bone contact and less pain and swelling.
The DonJoy OA Adjuster has been used for years as an alternative to knee replacement surgery by off-loading the medial or lateral compartments of the knee.
Commended by the Arthritis Foundation and rated clinically effective in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, The DonJoy OA Adjuster offers immediate pain relief without surgery or pharmaceuticals.
The OA Adjuster has many benefits over tradition arthritis braces that make it the choice of athletes and physicians.
The OA Adjuster offers easy patient-controlled load adjustment to meet daily needs. Its lightweight (23 oz.), aircraft grade aluminum frame provides a low profile, rigid brace that is comfortable to wear for long term use.
The brace is ideally suited for active, adult patients with moderate to severe unicompartmental osteoarthritis, moderate to severe ligament instabilities, and for post-operative rehabilitation.
Unlike many single hinged arthritis braces, the OA Adjuster provides added knee stability to protect the ACL, meniscus and collateral ligaments.
So if you suffer from arthritis pain in the knee, and want to delay or prevent knee replacement surgery, the DonJoy OA Adjuster may be the alternative you need.
It is important that you consult with your physician before deciding on an arthritis knee brace.
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