Unloader Knee Brace at Orthotics Plus

  • An Unloader Knee Caryatid is a knee brace used to reduce the hurting associated with knee osteoarthritis. It may be used to filibuster or prevent a total or partial knee replacement.
  • It is primarily used forunicompartmental knee osteoarthritis but may be used for meniscal injuries or conditions benefiting from the reduction of load through a single compartment of the articulatio genus.
  • Orthotics Plus provides professional knee assessments, fitting and ongoing support at our clinics in Melbourne: Malvern & Heidelberg.
  • We provide a 'satisfaction period' of 30 days, where the patient can access a consummate refund of the cost of the brace if they do non find it effective.

Book a Knee Assessment Call (03) 9077 6414

Prescription of an Unloader Knee joint Caryatid

It is typically considered for those living with symptomatic OA of the articulatio genus. About patients nowadays to us once their OA is moderate to severe, as this is when people seek help.

The brace can be used for patients with mild OA or a degenerative meniscus (oft a precursor to OA), however the effects will be less noticeable unless the patient has pain or stiffness.

The brace is suitable for male and female patients of most all torso shapes and sizes, including adults and children (Arthritis in pediatrics is uncommon, withal exists).

The brace is conducive to those who are lightly agile (small amounts of walking and continuing) to those who are very active (running, jogging, hiking).

It is relatively light-weight and in most cases, is not regarded as adverse to lifestyle or manner choices.

A diagnosis from a GP, surgeon or physiotherapist may exist useful, as would any imaging which has been done (such as Ten-rays) as this will allow us to ensure we are reducing the load on the correct compartment.

Sometimes osteoarthritic hurting isn't specific and piece of cake to pinpoint to an exact location so having this additional information is useful.

However, you practise not demand a referral to see Orthotics Plus.

What is Unicompartmental Osteoarthritis?

Unloader Braces are suitable for unicompartmental osteoarthritis.

'Uni' is latin for 'i', 'compartmental' refers to an area of the knee.

The human human knee has three 'compartments':

  • Medial– The inside of the knee
  • Lateral– The outside of the articulatio genus
  • Patellofemoral– The compartment behind the kneecap where the patella and femur articulate

Unicompartmental osteoarthritis is when the cartilage covering either the medial or lateral compartment of the articulatio genus 'wears out' or degrades- resulting in pain, stiffness and loss of function.

On average the medial compartment takes approximately sixty% of the load when walking and as such nosotros practise see more osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the knee.

Patients with a 'bow legged' (varus) or knock kneed (valgus) knee posture will often have increased and abnormally high forces through a particular compartment which increases their risk of OA in that compartment.

The reason why Unloader braces piece of work for unicompartmental osteoarthritis is that there is a 'healthier' and less painful compartment of the knee nosotros can redistribute load to.

When we shift this load in that location is less strength going through the more worn and damaged compartment which will reduce pain.

Most patients with osteoarthritis of the knee have unicompartmental osteoarthritis, so an imaging report is oftentimes useful for us to know which compartment is more than severely afflicted and will assist in management.

How an Unloader Knee joint Brace Works

The Unloader Articulatio genus Brace is different from most other human knee orthoses because it attempts to correct the biomechanics of the knee.

Most other human knee orthoses for osteoarthritis will provide compression and warmth which reduces pain, just they don't alter the biomechanics of the knee so largely mask the symptoms.

The Unloader Knee Brace works using a 3-point pressure system to take load off the more arthritic/damaged compartment of the knee and shift that load to the sound side that is non as painful.

For example, it is common for OA patients to have a knee that is varus (bow-legged). This can be partially corrected by applying a medially directed strength to the lateral aspect of the knee joint. This forcefulness will reduce load on the medial/inside compartment and shift it to the lateral/outside compartment of the knee.

Ideally creating a situation where the hips, knees and ankles are in a straighter line.

The same principle is applied for a valgus articulatio genus with lateral compartment OA, but reversed.


The device consists of two shells, dynamic forcefulness straps (a pulling mechanism) and a Boa dial to accommodate the tension of the device.

The straps are located above the genu/on the calf and grip well.

The brace is quite soft to touch, which many people find foreign because they're expecting a rigid structure to command the knee. However, because the unloading is done via straps/pulling machinery, it is considered a comfortable blueprint.

The dynamic force strap'due south tension is altered via the punch. It is a convenient device.

The patient tin self conform the tension and amount of unloading on the knee to their ain comfort and tolerance. The user can so theoretically manage their ain pain to a degree- tensioning the dial more if they are in more than pain and feel they need more unloading.

The pain relief is the most considerable outcome to reach, so the patient tin live more actively and enjoyably!

Long Term Outcomes

The long term outcomes of knee bracing is private to the patient. In full general, the use of a human knee caryatid should ideally:

  • Manage current pain symptoms
  • Delay or prevent knee surgery, thereby lowering the chances of revision surgery afterward in life
  • Lower the risk of increased pain in the time to come
  • Promote an active lifestyle, leading to benefits such as weight direction, lower limb rehabilitation and quality of life

As such, nosotros have patients that apply their Unloader Articulatio genus Caryatid ongoing.

It is of import to acknowledge that Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and that no caryatid is a cure, however can offer considerable assist.

We likewise propose undertaking strategies of weight loss, appropriate exercise and muscle strengthening and consulting with your GP or surgeon about medication and other hurting reduction strategies.

We find patients get the best results when they apply multiple interventions.

Orthotics Plus: Our Take on the Unloader Knee joint Caryatid

The office of Orthotics Plus is to identify the braces that will lead to functional outcomes for our patients. Patients have the advantage of leveraging our feel and viewing an inventory of carefully selected products.

We observe the 'Unloader One' Knee Brace by Ossur very helpful for those living with Osteoarthritis symptomising in the knee and suggest it is industry-leading in terms of its ability to reach functional outcomes, as well as beingness well supported by clinical evidence. As such, it is often suggested over many other braces.

Patients that are appropriate for the Unloader Human knee Brace will generally take an firsthand hurting reduction upon caryatid application in the clinic and attain the maximum pain relief in iv-8 weeks. They will tolerate more motion and increase their overall capacity.

Plumbing fixtures the Unloader requires skill and expertise to optimise the fine balance betwixt comfort and symptom relief. Nosotros highly recommend engaging an experienced clinic such every bit Orthotics Plus to fit your Unloader Brace.

We believe the Unloader to exist a very useful knee brace for OA patients.

Ready to Effort an Unloader Knee Brace?

Our focus is on your functional outcomes. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you tin render it to Orthotics Plus within 30 days – at that place'southward no risk.

  • You can endeavour the caryatid during your assessment
  • The Unloader may provide immediate pain relief and greater quality of life
  • We are locally owned and operated
  • We abet for patient choice and control

For a comprehensive knee assessment, delight use our referrals or clinic pages to become started.

Unloader Knee Brace FAQ

In that location are multiple peer reviewed studies to suggest the Unloader Human knee Brace works. Delight see the prove tab for a summary of a scattering of published studies.

Recently, there was a study at Melbourne University that showed there was a provable reduction in tibio-femoral contact impulse at the knee during walking. This study is undergoing peer review and is expected to be published soon, a video recording of the presentation detailing these findings tin exist watched hither.

In our feel, we have read multiple published studies and have dozens of anecdotal stories to suggest that the Unloader Articulatio genus Brace works very well.

The evidence is expanded upon further down in this FAQ.

The caryatid won't restrict your activities.

It should allow y'all to do more activities by reducing pain, reducing stiffness and improving function. Patients using an Unloader Knee Brace end up walking/exercising more than and more than.

The brace will forestall an unwanted movement at the knee, which is the excessive varus/valgus divergence and excessive load through i compartment of the knee.

It'southward not going to prevent flexion or extension of the knee, so you tin move until your heart's content!

This does occur in a modest number of patients, withal, it is rarely because the brace doesn't reduce their pain. It may be cognitive problems, skin integrity issues (generally in the very quondam) or the patient opts for surgery instead.

To brand your conclusion easier to attempt an Unloader Brace Orthotics Plus offers a 30 24-hour interval satisfaction period. If during this timeframe you wish to return the caryatid we will provide a complete refund, minus the cost of our consult fee.

People are able to try one on at Orthotics Plus.

Your official diagnosis helps. If you are living with unicompartmental osteoarthritis, or if yous have a varus or valgus knee posture, and so it is likely a skilful Orthoses to consider.

Patients are fitted on the day and the production can exist trialled and purchased on the day.

Patients are too able to accept these home for an extended trial with the option of a full refund (minus consult fees), which is a depression-risk selection.

After educating our patients on how to correctly fit this to themselves, they are ordinarily able to put on the caryatid in approx 10-xxx seconds.

Near of the time, the patient wears these under their clothes. We recommend wearing the caryatid straight onto your skin, or under a very thin layer.

The caryatid will be compatible with most types of pants with a little bit of give such as chinos or cargo pants, it wouldn't piece of work well with skinny jeans.

Patients may also wear the brace over their active-vesture sport vesture.

At that place are multiple studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Unloader Braces. We encourage patients to do their own enquiry if desired however some of these are summarised below:

Show

  • Mistry, D. A., Chandratreya, A., & Lee, P. Y. (2018). An update on unloading knee braces in the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis from the last ten years: a literature review. The Surgery Periodical, four(3), e110.

"We reviewed the bear witness from fourteen published articles. Almost all articles supported knee brace use and showed it to decrease pain, amend office, and amend the quality of life of patients. One study in 2017 followed patients for long term and found knee bracing to be more cost effective than total human knee replacement"

  • Moyer, R. F., Birmingham, T. B., Bryant, D. Yard., Giffin, J. R., Marriott, K. A., & Leitch, M. M. (2015). Biomechanical effects of valgus knee joint bracing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 23(2), 178-188.

"17 studies suggested a statistically significant decrease in the external knee joint adduction moment (KAM) during walking, with a moderate-to-high effect size (SMD = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.83; P < 0.001)."

"Systematic review and meta-analysis suggests valgus knee braces tin can alter human knee loads through a combination of mechanisms, with moderate-to-high consequence sizes in biomechanical outcomes."

  • Kirkley, A., Webster-Bogaert, S., Litchfield, R., Amendola, A., MacDonald, Southward., McCalden, R., & Fowler, P. (1999). The effect of bracing on varus gonarthrosis. JBJS, 81(four), 539-48.

" At the six-month follow-upward evaluation, there was a meaning improvement in the illness-specific quality of life (p = 0.001) and in function (p ≤ 0.001) in both the neoprene-sleeve group and the unloader-brace group compared with the control grouping. At that place was a significant difference between the unloader-brace group and the neoprene-sleeve group with regard to pain later on both the six-minute walking test (p = 0.021) and the xxx-2d stair-climbing test (p = 0.016)."

  • Deie, G., Shibuya, H., Toriyama, Yard., Kumahashi, N., Uchio, Y., Sasashige, Y., & Ochi, M. (2013). The furnishings of an unloading genu brace and insole with subtalar strapping for medial osteoarthritis of the articulatio genus. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 4(12), 6.

"After 12 months, the clinical results for all groups had improved…. Although the knee varus moment decreased and the gait speed increased when the insole was worn initially, the furnishings of the insole decreased at half-dozen and 12 months. In contrast, the knee varus moment decreased and the gait speed increased when  the brace was initially fitted . The furnishings of the brace were maintained during the 12 months."

  • Lee, P. Y., Winfield, T. G., Harris, S. R., Storey, E., & Chandratreya, A. (2017). Unloading human knee brace is a cost-effective method to bridge and delay surgery in unicompartmental knee arthritis. BMJ open up sport & exercise medicine, 2(one).

"Unloading articulatio genus braces are cost-effective for the management of UOA. These findings strongly support the undertaking of further enquiry into the long-term impact of unloading articulatio genus caryatid. The unloader genu brace has benefits to the National Wellness Service for capacity, budget, waiting listing duration, frequency of surgery and reducing the required severity of surgical intervention."

https://world wide web.ossur.com/en-au/professionals/education-and-support-bracing/clinical-research-and-studies-bracing/research-unloader-braces