Knee osteoarthritis: how can a suitable brace spread the load and bring relief?

Unicompartmental osteoarthritis

As knee osteoarthritis is often located in one compartment (medial or lateral), the role of the brace is to hold the knee in its physiological axis in order to off-load the arthritic compartment from the mechanical stresses that cause wear, pain and mechanical inflammation.

The 3-point lateral support principle (2 points above and below on the injured side, 1 at the knee on the healthy compartment) off-loads the stresses responsible for osteoarthritis.

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis

This osteoarthritis sits between the kneecap and the femoral condyles. Pain is felt mainly when climbing stairs (115°), and above all when going down them (135°).

The brace must:

- Keep the axis of the kneecap aligned with the knee.

- Spread mechanical stresses to reduce osteoarthritis pain.

- Store kinetic energy during flexion and release it during extension.