We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Medicine

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Unloader Brace?

By Christina Whyte
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,544
Share

An unloader brace is a type of knee brace that helps take some of the stress off of the painful part of the knee joint. These braces are most commonly used for patients with knee osteoarthritis in one compartment of the knee. Doctors refer to three compartments of the knee: lateral, medial and patellofemoral. These are the places where bones connect with each other in the joint on the outer side, inner side, and kneecap area, respectively. Unloader braces work by "unloading" stress from the affected medial or lateral compartment to the healthy compartment on the opposite side of the knee joint; the brace uses a three-point pressure system that forces the knee joint to bend slightly to the unaffected side.

People who have osteoarthritis of the knee in one compartment often suffer severe pain and have problems walking. This may be very obvious to other people as well since the knee will wobble with each step as the affected compartment gives way. Elastic sleeve-type braces often provide insufficient support for these patients and do not significantly relieve knee pain. Wearing an unloader brace can provide significant knee pain relief and mobility improvement, even in patients who are active in recreational sports and have high expectations for mobility.

An unloader brace can help delay the need for surgery or help provide relief for patients who are older than recommended or otherwise unsuitable for surgery. They can also be very helpful for patients who are waiting for surgery since the waiting period can be rather lengthy. Importantly, use of an unloader brace may reduce the need for pain relieving and anti-inflammatory medication. This is very helpful to many patients who have trouble with the side effects of these medications or for patients who are simply uncomfortable with taking a lot of medication.

An unloader brace is not the correct type of brace for all knee pain. They are more bulky than many other knee brace types and also more expensive. They may not be suitable for patients who are obese because of difficulty in fitting the brace; people who have severe gait problems in which their knees knock together also aren't good candidates because the brace may chafe the unaffected knee. There are also different types of unloader brace, so patients will need to consult with a doctor to obtain the correct one. Unloader braces are usually used as part of an overall doctor-supervised management plan for osteoarthritis of the knee rather than by themselves.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-an-unloader-brace.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.