| One of the most common areas afflicted with arthritis | | | | braces reduce pain by enabling proper alignment. |
| are knee joints, and the use of arthritis knee braces is | | | | In general, these braces are an affordable and |
| an age old method of controlling the debilitating pain | | | | effective way of controlling knee joint pain. They have |
| that comes with arthritis. Arthritis knee braces help | | | | been proven to work for a number of arthritis knee |
| reduce the pressure from the knee and leg, ultimately | | | | patients. However, there is still some debate over their |
| aligning the leg in the correct position to lessen the | | | | effectiveness. |
| impact of arthritis pain. | | | | Some medical experts would argue that braces are |
| Arthritis knee braces come in two broad categories - | | | | merely a temporary solution to a long-term problem, |
| custom made and off the shelf. "Off the shelf" pertains | | | | and often just delay the possibility of surgical knee |
| to selecting the appropriate braces from a | | | | replacements. The support of arthritis knee braces |
| ready-made collection, whereas "custom made" | | | | tend to weaken the knee and leg muscles, and may |
| pertains to having braces designed based on | | | | ultimately lead to permanent weakness and even |
| distinctive specifications and addressing the patient's | | | | further deteriorate the patient's condition. |
| unique knee requirements. Obviously, custom made | | | | Conversely, a number of users attest that when used |
| braces are more expensive than the off the shelf | | | | regularly, these braces are effective in providing proper |
| type. However, a custom made brace is considerably | | | | alignment, managing body weight on the knees, and |
| better, as it is designed to suit the patient's specific | | | | even reducing pain significantly. |
| needs. Along with knee braces, footwear choice is | | | | Ideally, the results of the brace depend on the merits |
| also important in determining the amount of pressure | | | | of each case and should not be generalized. The |
| on the knees. The type of shoes a patient wears may | | | | patient's body constitution, overall health, and the extent |
| either improve or worsen the pain correspondingly. | | | | of arthritis present, among a number of other factors, |
| In addition to these two broad types, arthritis knee | | | | may have an impact on the results of knee brace |
| braces may also be grouped into four classifications. | | | | usage. |
| An off loader knee brace, otherwise known as an | | | | In selecting the right knee braces for you, always keep |
| unloader, is generally used to provide knee alignment. | | | | your own requirements in mind. The specific type of |
| These braces provide knee support by reducing the | | | | brace you need will depend on the extent of your pain |
| valgus or varus stress from the knees, or the irregular | | | | or the severity of your condition. The more serious the |
| mechanical alignment on one side of the knee. | | | | injury or pain, the bigger the braces you need. Off the |
| Prophylactic braces, meanwhile, are used mostly by | | | | shelf braces are just as effective as custom made |
| patients who suffer from knee injuries, usually sports | | | | ones, unless you have a specific pain/area to target or |
| injuries. | | | | a quite uncommon knee shape. |
| On the other hand, rehabilitative braces are used to | | | | It is always recommended that you consult a doctor |
| improve lateral and medial movements. These braces | | | | first to determine the appropriate brace applicable to |
| also help to control the extension and flexing of the | | | | your condition. Always consult a qualified doctor prior |
| knee joint following a knee injury or a related surgery. | | | | to undergoing any form of treatment, whether |
| OA knee braces, as their name suggests, are used | | | | medication or alternative therapies or knee braces. |
| specifically by Osteoarthritis (OA) patients. These | | | | |