Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow an Unloader Knee Brace WorksIndicationsBenefitsUsing the BraceCost
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How an Unloader Knee Brace Works
Indications
Benefits
Using the Brace
Cost
Using an unloader knee bracemay provide enough comfort to improve mobility and diminish pain while at rest. However, it does not cure or reverse osteoarthritis or any other disease of the joints.
This article will explain how an unloader knee brace works, when to use it, and its benefits.
Ilona Shorokhova / Getty Images
The unloader knee brace is a custom-designed brace made of molded plastic, foam, and steel struts to stabilize your knee joint and limit side movement. It fits around the leg at the level of your knee joint, allowing flexibility for movement.
About 54 million Americans haveosteoarthritis, a painful condition that most often affects the hands, knees, and hips. Knee osteoarthritis has increased in the United States due to obesity.
Unloader knee braces are typically prescribed for people with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, which is arthritis that affects the inner portion of the knee. In these cases, knee instability can cause the knee to wobble toward the inside of the leg when walking.
An unloader knee brace transfers the pressure away from the weak area of your knee to provide you with more stability. Again, this is most helpful if the other side of the knee joint is relatively healthy and can assume the load.
Can It Help Medial Compartment Knee Osteoarthritis?
Experts from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) have studied whether the unloader knee brace can objectively help people with medial compartmentknee osteoarthritis. Using criteria that include knee pain, stiffness, self-reported functional capacity, and physical performance, the AAOS recommends more research comparing a knee brace versus a knee sleeve.
The main benefits of using an unloader knee brace include:
It is generally considered a cost-effective treatment offering pain relief without major side effects.
While an unloader knee brace can allow some people with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis to delay surgery, it is not clear whether there are any other benefits.
Using an Unloader Knee Brace
If you have never used an unloader knee brace, your medical team will provide instructions for how long to wear it daily. You will likely begin with a couple of hours each day and then work up to several hours daily.
The waiting lists forknee replacement surgeryare often several months long. If you are on a waiting list, the brace can help alleviate pain and provide mobility while you wait for surgery.
Knee replacement surgery has different outcomes and patient satisfaction scores. Younger, more active patients are at a higher risk of eventually needing a second surgery. With guidance from their medical team, individuals may wear an unloader knee brace for several years to delay surgical interventions.
Your healthcare provider or physical therapist will provide specific guidance regarding how often you shouldwear your unloader knee brace, when you must wear it, and when you shouldn’t.
Unloader knee braces can be bulky, so consider opting for loose-fitting pants, shorts, or a skirt when wearing one.
How Much Do Unloader Knee Braces Cost?
On average, unloader knee braces cost between $400 and $900. Health insurance does not always cover them, so you should check with your plan provider.
Several designs of unloader knee bracesare available. If your healthcare provider or physical therapist prescribes one, they will specify whether you can buy one or if you should order a custom-fit or custom-made model.
Depending on your condition, you may need to have your brace specially ordered for you from one of the manufacturers. The manufacturer will request details about the size and function of your knee so that you canget the fit and featuresthat are just right for your condition.
Summary
Discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider if you think a knee brace could help your pain and mobility. They can help you decide whether a knee brace is right for you and what type would benefit you most.
Whether to use an unloader knee brace depends on the location and extent of your knee osteoarthritis. Your healthcare team can help you determine a treatment plan to minimize knee pain and maximize mobility.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lee PY, Winfield TG, Harris SR, Storey E, Chandratreya A.Unloading knee brace is a cost-effective method to bridge and delay surgery in unicompartmental knee arthritis.BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2016;2(1):e000195. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000195
Buelt A, Narducci DM.Osteoarthritis management: updated guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation.American Family Physician. 2021;103(2):120-121.
Mistry DA, Chandratreya A, Lee PYF.An update on unloading knee braces in the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis from the last 10 years: a literature review.Surg J (N Y). 2018;4(3):e110-e118.
Guo L, Luo Y, Zhou L, et al.Kinematic study of the overall unloading brace for the knee.Heliyon. 2023;9(2):e13116.
Costhelper.com.Knee brace cost.
Medicare.gov.Braces (arm, leg, back, & neck).
Jevsevar, David S. MD, MBA.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: evidence-based guideline, 2nd edition.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons21(9):p 571-576, September 2013. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-571
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