What Can a Brace Do for Your Knee Osteoarthritis?

Do Knee Braces Work?

If you have knee osteoarthritis, you may find yourself in a position that’s familiar to many other fellow patients: treatment option overload. Since about 14 million Americans have some version of knee OA, there is an overwhelming abundance of interventions that claim to address the problem, leaving many patients unsure of where to even begin.

In general, the entirety of treatment options for knee osteoarthritis can be categorized into two groups: surgical or non-surgical.

Surgical treatments include a procedure called high tibial osteotomy and knee replacement surgery, which can be either partial or complete. Most experts recommend that surgery only be considered as a last resort, after unsuccessfully exhausting all other options, due to the high costs and associated risks—especially for revision surgery to replace old or damaged implants.

Non-surgical treatments, instead, can sometimes be the option to address most cases of knee osteoarthritis from the onset of the pain. There is a large pool of non-surgical options.

Weight loss, physical therapy, exercise, medications, supplements, and injections are just a few of the many interventions available for knee osteoarthritis. Some of these can lead to notable improvements while others are not likely to be of much help, and results can vary from patient to patient. 

Another important treatment option that’s worth discussing is knee bracing, which may represent at least part of an effective solution for knee osteoarthritis. In this blog, we’re going to explain what types of braces are currently used for knee osteoarthritis and explore what the future may hold for knee bracing technology. 

Knee braces provide support to decrease pain and boost knee function

Knee braces are devices that are frequently recommended for patients with many painful knee conditions. Braces come in a wide array of types and designs, each of which has a specific indication. For knee osteoarthritis, several kinds of braces may be recommended depending on the patient and the severity of symptoms, but all these braces follow the same general principle: provide support and stability to the knee to alleviate pain and allow for greater knee function.

A knee sleeve is a light, basic brace design that wraps around the knee, either with or without a hole for the kneecap. These braces provide compression and gentle support to the soft tissue around the knee joint. Some patients prefer knee sleeves because they are lightweight and comfortable.

Functional knee braces typically have hinges that help to provide additional stability to the knee joint.  Because of their design, these braces tend to be slightly heavier and bulkier, but also more supportive than knee sleeves.

The most common class of braces used for knee osteoarthritis are unloader braces. As the name suggests, these braces are designed to unload the knee in order to reduce pain, increase range of motion, and improve overall function.

When patients with knee osteoarthritis walk, the area—or areas—where cartilage has worn away becomes painful from the forces that are distributed to them from the rest of the body.

In other words, the forces from walking “load” the compartment(s) of the knee, and the result is pain.

An unloader knee brace is used to redistribute the forces upon the knee from painful areas to non-painful areas any time the patient is standing or participating in an activity that involves the affected leg.

In effect, a brace can “unload” the knee by easing the strain on the region affected by osteoarthritis. By doing so, the appropriate unloader brace potentially allows the patient to move and walk with significantly less pain.

Traditional passive braces may lead to some benefits, but the evidence is mixed 

Now that you understand the general concept behind most braces used for knee osteoarthritis, you may be wondering if they work. According to the research, the answer appears to be: possibly.

Numerous studies have been conducted on the use of braces for knee osteoarthritis over the past several decades. These studies differ significantly in design and quality, and their support for knee bracing is not universal; however, many have shown that braces can be an effective strategy for improving symptoms and reducing costs for patients. 

One powerful study randomly assigned 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis to receive either a usual course of treatment or this same course of care plus an unloader knee brace. Results showed that wearing the brace combined with usual care led to significant improvements in pain, function, and health-related quality of life up to one year later. It was also found that the knee brace had a good safety profile and was not associated with any adverse events.

A comprehensive review and other studies have also shown that knee braces can improve patients’ gait and are beneficial for pain, stiffness, function, and quality of life. These and other benefits may translate to a reduced need for surgery, or at least a greater delay before it becomes necessary.

This claim has been supported in another study, which found that a knee brace can either delay or even eliminate the need for surgery in up to 39% of patients with knee osteoarthritis. These patients were also able to return to their daily activities and work while using the knee brace.

Fewer symptoms, better quality of life, and more time before undergoing surgery could also mean lower overall costs for patients who use knee braces. Several studies have shown that braces are a cost-effective treatment option when combined with other interventions, particularly for those who are on long waiting lists and for younger patients who are interested in delaying surgery for as long as possible.

While there is clearly some research that supports knee bracing, the jury is still out on whether these devices are effective for all patients, as other studies—including a comprehensive literature review—have been inconclusive or mixed in their findings. But most of the braces currently available for knee osteoarthritis may have inherent limitations because they are technically classified as passive knee braces. 

Future knee braces actively sense movements and respond in real-time

The traditional braces used for knee osteoarthritis—including those described above—are static devices that assist the knee in a passive fashion. In other words, these braces are incapable of responding to changes in the surrounding environment, and thus provide the same level of support and stability regardless of the user’s actions.

But a new class of knee braces could significantly transform the market by integrating an additional level of functionality.

Active knee braces follow the same general principles of traditional, passive braces, but feature several technological advancements that allow them to sense the position and movement of the knee and react accordingly in real-time. This is accomplished by sensor technology in the brace that gathers information about where the knee is in space, whether the user is sitting or moving, and when moving, the type of surface beneath the feet. Software within the brace responds to this information by simultaneously providing support and power that flex or extend the knee. The result is that the brace gives the user the appropriate amount of support needed to complete the movement or maneuver being executed.

By actively intervening and supporting users’ movements in real-time, these artificial intelligence-informed devices could represent a new generation of knee braces that allows patients with knee osteoarthritis a greater level of physical function than what has previously been thought possible.

Wearable Robotic Orthosis for Pain Relief and Improved Mobility

Ascend is a smart knee orthosis designed to provide relief from knee pain and intuitively support everyday mobility. The customized, lightweight, and comfortable design reduces burden on the knee and adjusts to users as needed, enabling a confident, active and healthy lifestyle.

Smart sensor technology provides support when performing common motions like walking, kneeling, standing, sitting, and going up or down steps.  Ascend provides a safe, non-invasive and non-surgical option for pain relief and mobility constraints related to osteoarthritis, knee instability, and/or weak quadriceps. 

To learn more about knee pain or Ascend, visit www.ascend.health or call us at (415) 481-6400 or email us at hello@ascend.health

Medical Disclaimer: Ascend is registered with the FDA as a Class I medical device. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.