Arthritis Knee Brace Guide

Here we will look at how different styles of arthritis braces work, what evidence there is to their effectiveness, how to choose the best brace for you including how to get the right size, and what to expect from the brace.

Styles To Choose From

There are three different styles of arthritis knee brace:

1. General Arthritis Knee Supports: These provide compression and warmth which help to reduce arthritis pain and swelling. They work best for mild arthritis affecting part or all of the joint
   
   
2. Advanced Support Braces: These provide support for ligaments and help reduce the weight going through the knee joint to reduce arthritis knee pain. These work well for mild and moderate arthritis affecting part or all of the joint
   
   
3. Unloader Arthritis Knee Braces: Unloader knee braces are specially designed to reduce the weight going through the parts of the knee affected by arthritis by changing the angle of the knee joint. Special hinges redistribute the weight to stronger parts of the joint. There are different unloader braces suitable for all severities of arthritis, mild, moderate and severe, but work best when only one side of the knee is affected.

We will start by looking at Unloader arthritis knee braces as they are the ones most specifically designed for arthritis.

1. Unloader Arthritis Knee Braces

Unloader arthritis knee braces work by reducing the weight going through the arthritic part of the knee joint and redistributing it to the healthy part of the knee.

As a result, unloader knee braces work best for people whose arthritis is confined to one side of the knee joint. Most commonly, arthritis affects the medial (inner) side of the knee, while the lateral (outer) side of the knee is often unaffected, but sometimes it works in reverse.

Unloader knee braces are more expensive than other types of arthritis knee brace, but that is because of their more complex design, which makes them much more effective.

Many people find they get great relief from their pain when wearing an unloader arthritis knee brace, and it can delay or even prevent the need for surgery. 

STAR BUY: Komzer OA Unloader Knee Brace

Orthomen Lateral Unloader Knee Brace

2. Advanced Arthritis Knee Braces

These arthritis knee braces provide moderate support for the knee joint, as well as helping to reduce swelling. They are great if your knee is starting to feel weak or unstable due to your arthritis, whether it is with sporting activities like skiing, or everyday activities such as walking. People often feel more confident knowing that they have some extra support. However, these braces won't offload the arthritic parts of the knee as unloader braces do.

3. General Arthritis Knee Supports

These arthritis knee braces provide some support and warmth to the joint, as well as helping to reduce knee arthritis pain and swelling. They are most suitable in the early stages of arthritis.

STAR BUY: Magnet RX Knee Brace Support

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STAR BUY: ACE Knee Brace with Side Stabilisers 

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Do They Really Help?

An article in Arthritis Today magazine quoted the American College of Rheumatology on the recommended management of arthritis stating “The use of lightweight knee braces may correct misaligned bones of the knee joint and reduce pressure on the soft tissues.”

The article also mentions that the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons too, supports the use of braces for knee osteoarthritis (OA), “Some [braces] may provide significant reduction in pain ... in selected patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.”

What To Expect From Knee Arthritis Braces

Brace Size Guides

It is vital that you get the right sized arthritis knee brace otherwise it will not provide the support you need and will likely be uncomfortable.  The size guides below will allow you to find the right size for you.  If your measurements put you between two sizes, it is usually best to opt for the larger size.

*Prices correct as of June 2024.  All prices are subject to change.  Please note we do not stock products directly and therefore have no control over price changes.  See advertising policy for more information.

Find Out More

If you want to know more about arthritis including diagnosis, symptoms and treatment options, visit the arthritis section.

If you don't think you've found the right arthritis knee brace for you, go to the knee brace guide for a greater range of braces.

You can also check out our book Knee Arthritis: Take Back Control. It is the top rated book on Knee Arthritis on Amazon with an average user review rating of 4.4/5.  It's packed full of great information from exercises to knee replacements and everything in between.  A perfect guide for anyone who is having a knee joint replacement

You might also be interested in the following articles:

• Knee Pain & Popping
• Swollen Knee Treatment
• Front Knee Pain
• Side Knee Pain
• Burning Knee Pain
• Knee Range Of Motion
• Knee Pain On Stairs

Page Last Updated: 22/05/24
Next Review Due: 22/05/26

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