Brace Yourself Against Knee OA Pain
If you have painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) and you’re not ready for surgery, a brace may provide pain relief, allowing you to postpone or perhaps forgo surgery.
In its Guidelines for the Medical Management of Osteoarthritis, the American College of Rheumatology states, “The use of lightweight knee braces may correct misaligned bones of the knee joint and reduce pressure on the soft tissues.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, too, supports the use of braces for knee OA. In its 2003 position statement on the use of knee braces, the Academy stated, “Some [braces] may provide significant reduction in pain when properly fitted in selected patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.”
How might braces help? Braces called unloader or offloader braces may help correct what is known as varus or valgus malalignment, according to the AAOS statement. Varus malalignment is when the knee is angled or twisted inward; valgus malalignment is when the knee is angled or twisted outward. Either misalignment can exacerbate OA and perhaps contribute to its initial development.
Braces may also help by improving gait symmetry, enhancing proprioception (your sense of position and movement), easing pain and allowing you to be more active, according to a review in The Physician and Sportsmedicine journal. “The science behind this technology is not definitive; however, ongoing research provides solid evidence that the [design] of these braces can normalize joint mechanics,” the review’s authors write.
Studies show that braces work best for people with mild to moderate OA. Patients with advanced OA or severe varus or valgus malalignment would not likely benefit from bracing, according to the authors.
