I Have Osteoarthritis Of The Knee And My Doctor Has Recommended A Knee Brace… Is That Ok?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Risk factors for this condition include family history, trauma and injury to the joint, and obesity.
OA is a disease of articular cartilage, the gristle that caps and cushions the ends of long bones and allows the joint to glide. With OA, the cartilage begins to wear away prematurely.
Weight-bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees are the areas most often involved. The knee, since it is so important for normal ambulation, is the joint that appears to give most patients a problem.
The treatment of symptomatic OA of the knee revolves around patient education, maintenance of ideal weight, exercise (stretching, strengthening, non impact aerobic), assistive devices such as canes or walkers if necessary, topical rubs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), injections of glucocorticoid (cortisone) or viscosupplements (lubricants) into the joint, and sometimes surgery.
One frequently neglected mode of treatment is bracing. Braces come in all shapes, sizes, and configurations. Braces are divided into two different groups, soft braces and hard braces.
Soft braces or “sleeves” are made of stretchable material such as synthetic cloth material or neoprene. Soft braces are designed to be either pulled up to fit around the knee or strapped into place using velcro or another similar method.
Soft braces have the benefits of being easy to use and easy to care for. They function by giving the knee a small amount of support. This support may be more of a function of proprioceptors (nerves that provide feedback as to orientation in space) around the knee than it is of actual knee stabilization since cloth or neoprene are not stiff enough to restrict motion. Patients with in the hands may also have difficulty pulling a sleeve up.
The other type of knee brace is the hard brace. These rigid braces are made of durable molded plastic. They have foam rubber liners for comfort and are reinforced with steel hinges. Technological
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