How Does an Offloading Knee Brace Work?
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that is common in young people as well as old. Also known as "OA", it is one of the most common forms of arthritis, and occurs when the cartilage between joints in your knee starts to wear away. The symptoms include mild to moderate pain, stiffness, immobility and bone spurs that can become worse over time.
Unfortunately, there are no known cures for OA, however there are ways in which you can limit the pain and regain some mobility. One effective method is to "offload" your knee using an offloading knee brace, which reduces pressure and realigns your patella to help you move without pain.
What Will This Guide Cover?
First off, this guide will explain what knee osteoarthritis is and how offloading can help. We'll then showcase a few of our best offloading knee braces, highlighting their key strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.
Information Centre
Our Best Offloading Braces
- Best Offloading Brace for Sports and Active Use
- Best Offloading Brace for Everyday Use
- Best Offloading Brace for Preventing Surgery
- Best Offloading Brace for Shock Absorption
- Best Offloading Brace for Discreet Use
- Low-Cost Alternatives
What Is Osteoarthritis in the Knee?
Osteoarthritis occurs when the body's natural cushioning (the cartilage) becomes worn. With less cartilage, bone rubs against bone, leading to pain and stiffness that ranges from a mild hinderance to a severe debilitation. Although the condition is more common among the elderly, factors that can exacerbate the condition in both the young and old are injury, overuse or excess weight.
In the UK alone there are an estimated 8.5 million people who suffer from osteoarthritis. Studies have also shown that at least 50% of people over the age of 65 suffer from the condition to at least some degree. The fact is that you aren't alone, which also means there are a lot of different things out there to help you if you feel that your life is affected by the condition.
How Do Offloading Knee Braces Work?
Here at Health and Care, we provide a wide range of OA Knee Braces, designed to prevent and repair damaged cartilage and the pain and stiffness associated with it. Offloading knees work by:
- Offloading knee braces offload the pressure from one side of the joint to the other
- This means that the stronger side of your knee bears the pressure, and the other side gets a break
- Offloading knee braces tend to fit all around the leg but are often made from lightweight metals and plastic
- You may be asked to choose between medial (inner) and lateral (outer) models depending on where the pain is located
- Offloading knee braces will often stabilise and reposition the knee, ensuring better leg posture
- We recommend that you wear your brace for shorter increments and ask your GP for advice before use
| Did You Know? Studies have found that activities such as walking, running, biking and swimming can help with pain and slow down the onset of Osteoarthritis. OA Knee Braces can help you to get active again without causing more damage to your knee. |
Where Can I Buy Offloading Knee Braces?
Here at Health and Care, we sell a number of Donjoy OA Braces that can help you to get active again. To help you make an informed decision, we've outlined a brief explanation of the differences between the braces down below.
Alternatively, you can also our guide on the Best Donjoy OA Brace for You, which includes a full breakdown of each brace by pros, cons and suitability.
Donjoy OA Adjuster 3 Unloader Osteoarthritis Knee Brace
The Donjoy OA Adjuster 3 Unloader is the heavy duty OA brace for unicompartmental osteoarthritis (arthritis that only affects one side of the knee). Suitable for more active users, this brace uses a lightweight, contoured design to make movement and exercising pain free.
Standout Features...
✔ Four-point leverage system ensures ligament stability
✔ Nano MAG technology provides lightweight support
✔ Contoured to the thigh and calf for exceptional comfort
Applications...
✔ Unicompartmental arthritis
✔ Sports and active use
Customer Feedback: "This knee brace gives me valuable support whilst carrying out everyday tasks and stops my arthritic knee from swelling. It holds the knee "together" which gives me a lot more confidence with mobilising and exercising. Easy to fit and adjust and not too bulky." - Eva ★★★★★
Donjoy OA Clima-Flex Knee Support
The Donjoy OA Clima-Flex Knee Support is best suited for light activities such as walking, golf or hiking. Using innovative technology to ensure breathability, coolness and comfort, this support is best suited to users with mild to moderate OA pain.
Standout Features...
✔ C-6 Fabric delivers gentle, cooling compression
✔ Combines offloading and compression for optimal relief
✔ Antimicrobial material with breathable temperature control
Applications...
✔ Mild-moderate arthritis pain
✔ Everyday and light sports use
Our Verdict: If your main priority is comfort, then the Clima-Flex is certainly the one to go for. Not only does it use offloading tech to reduce strain on the knee, it also provides gentle, soothing compression that works to relieve aches and pains. Although not as effective at offloading as others on this list, the cooling compression more than makes up for it.
Donjoy OA Nano Unloader Osteoarthritis Knee Brace
The Donjoy OA Nano Unloader Osteoarthritis Knee Brace is a lightweight unloader for those with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, helping you to stay active and avoid surgery. It's the ideal choice for stabilising the joint and avoiding invasive treatments.
Standout Features...
✔ Utilises clinically proven three-point offloading technology
✔ Magnesium frame and intimate fit for a light-as-air feel
✔ Contoured design enhances suspension and comfort
Applications...
✔ Preventing the need for surgery
✔ Mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis
Customer Feedback: "I snapped my ACL over 30 years ago in a time when they weren’t repaired and have used knee braces of some sort over that time. To support and slow the decline of OA in the knee. I’m down to walking about a mile max, the nano has comfortably offloaded the now bone on bone problem and taken that to 10 miles plus. Prolonging the eventual knee replacement. Its comfort and effectiveness makes it a everyday use brace." - Iain ★★★★★
Donjoy OA Reaction Web Right Medial/Left Lateral Knee Brace
Available for either the right or left leg, the Donjoy OA Reaction Knee Brace is designed to help you become accustomed to wearing a knee brace. A discreet solution for early-to-mid unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee and patella.
Standout Features...
✔ Open framework guarantees breathability and comfort
✔ Web mesh design absorbs shock to reduce pain while moving
✔ Offloading hinges keep pressure away from the affected area
Applications...
✔ Early-to-mid unicompartmental arthritis
✔ Discreet support
Customer Feedback: "I purchased this after diagnosis of medial OA and several problems with patella. Have tested the brace on long walks (3+ hours) and short trail runs - It deals with both the OA and seems to ensure patella tracks as it should. Overall v [sic] pleased." - Mark ★★★★★
| Left Medial | Right Medial |
Thuasne Action Reliever Osteoarthritis Knee Brace
The Thuasne Action Reliever Osteoarthritis Knee Brace has a special three point pressure system that offloads stress from one part of the knee to the other. This lightweight and slimline brace can fit underneath clothes without too much trouble.
Standout Features...
✔ Three-point pressure system offloads the knee effectively
✔ Adjustable hinge on the side for precise fitting and support
✔ Semi-soft material design can fits comfortably under clothing
Applications...
✔ Medial or lateral arthritis
✔ Discreet knee support
Our Verdict: Having shown in clinical studies to increase the walking distance of those with arthritis, the Action Reliever is proven option for anyone with debilitating knee pain. It's comfortable and discreet, yet still keeps up with the same level of support as the other high-performance offloading braces on this list.
Low Cost Alternatives
Although our selection of offloading knee braces provide by far the best protection and support for those with arthritis, we understand that because of their high-quality materials and intricate designs, they can be a bit on the pricey side. If you can't afford to stretch your budget, there are plenty of other low-cost bracing options that provide excellent support and pain relief for arthritis, but without the offloading technology.
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Actimove Arthritis Care Compression Knee Support
- Heat-retaining knee support to provide compression and warmth
- Ideal for relief of pain associated with knee arthritis
- Unique ceramic fibres retain heat to soothe the knee
- Light compression reduces swelling while promoting circulation
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Ultimate Performance Compression Elastic Knee Support
- Lightweight elastic compression knee support
- Ideal for people with knee sprains and instability
- Provides a bi-lateral fit for extra convenience
- Offers compression and support without use of neoprene
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BioSkin Standard Knee Support for Knee Pain
- Knee support with compression for knee pain
- Can treat instability, sprains and enhance knee recovery
- Will reduce pain, increase circulation and enhance recovery
- Universal for both legs and comes with or without straps
Shop More Offloading Knee Braces
We hope this article has taught you everything you need to know about offloading and how it can help your condition. Now you're ready to choose a brace that will help you get moving again. However, if none of the braces shown in this article sound right for you, there are more to choose from in our full range of offloading knee braces.
Do you have any questions about our knee supports, or would you like a recommendation based on your symptoms? Please don't hesitate to let us know in the comments, or find us on Facebook and Twitter!
Tags: Arthritis, Knee Pain, Donjoy OA Braces