Saturday, January 24, 2009

Arthritis Knee Braces

By Amy Clark

One of the most common parts affected by arthritis are knee joints, and using arthritis knee braces is an ancient method for managing the excruciating pain that is associated with arthritis. Arthritis knee braces can manage the pressure on the leg and knee, in due course aligning the leg in the appropriate position to relieve arthritis pain.

Arthritis knee braces are grouped into 2 broad categories - custom-made and off-the-shelf. "Off-the-shelf" entails selecting the right knee braces from a ready-to-wear set, while "custom-made" entails having braces designed based on precise condition and considering your own unique knee requirements. Clearly, custom-made knee braces are more expensive than the off the shelf braces. On the other hand, a custom made brace is substantially better, as it is tailored to match the patient's own needs. On top of arthritis knee braces, footwear type is also vital to gauge your body pressure on your knees. The actual shoes a patient wears can either reduce or increase your pain.

In addition to these 2 broad categories, knee braces can also be grouped into 4 distinct types.

An off loader arthritis knee brace, also called an unloader, is normally worn to provide knee alignment. Off-loader knee braces offer knee support by lessening the valgus or varus stress from the knees, or the defective mechanical alignment on one side of the knee.

Prophylactic braces, meanwhile, are worn typically by individuals who suffer from knee injuries, particularly sports injuries.

Alternatively, rehabilitative arthritis knee braces are recommended to improve lateral and/or medial movements. Rehabilitative arthritis knee braces also help to enhance the flexion & extension of the knee joint after knee injuries or a surgical procedure.

OA knee braces, as their name implies, are worn especially by OA (Osteoarthritis) patients. OA knee braces manage pain by enabling proper knee alignment.

Generally, arthritis knee braces are a low-cost and reliable method of managing joint pain of the knees. Arthritis knee braces have been established to work in the majority of cases. However, there are some concerns about their reliability.

Some physicians claim that braces are merely a fleeting treatment to an enduring problem, and often just postpone the necessity for knee replacement surgery. The temporary support of knee braces will likely incapacitate the muscles of knees and legs, and may progressively bring about permanent weakness and all-the-more cause the patient's condition to deteriorate.

However, numerous patients swear that regular use of arthritis knee braces effectively work in promoting proper alignment, restraining your body weight on the knee, and even significantly relieving pain.

Of course, the end results of the brace are based on the unique conditions of each case and should not be oversimplified. One's body constitution, overall health, and the degree of arthritis, to name a few, can affect the outcome of knee brace use.

In deciding on the appropriate arthritis knee braces for your own use, always consider your own unique requirements. The particular type of knee brace for you is dependent on the gravity of your pain or the state of your condition. The more severe the pain, the larger the knee braces you need. Off the shelf knee braces are equally as reliable as custom-made braces, unless you have a distinctive pain or area to address or a rather irregular knee shape.

It is always prudent to visit your doctor first to determine the right brace type applicable to your condition. Always consult a qualified doctor prior to going for any form of treatment, whether medication or alternate therapies or knee braces. - 15437

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