What to Expect from a Brace
Expectations and Limitations
Braces cannot cure osteoarthritis (OA) and may not be right for everyone. However, bracing is a viable solution for many people. Some patients benefit more than others do from bracing.
If a person’s OA is in an advanced stage, or if the person is extremely overweight, he or she may not benefit significantly from bracing. The ideal candidates are active people who are motivated to strengthen their muscles and willing to wear a brace to realize the benefits of this form of treatment.
Discuss treatment goals with your doctor and the others on your health-care team before you get a brace. These professionals will explain how bracing can help you and what you can expect from an orthotic device. In addition, they will tell you about problems to watch out for, such as signs that your brace might need adjustment.
Don’t expect a brace to feel good from the start. It may take from a week to a month to get used to how the brace feels on your leg. Be patient. It took a long time for your knee OA to develop; it probably will take a while for any treatment, including bracing, to provide significant relief.
Bracing has come close to eliminating pain for some people with knee OA, while others only get slight relief. But braces may be beneficial even for those who do not experience significant pain relief, because the load-shifting provided by a brace may help the knee joint last longer.
People who don’t wear their brace – for instance, because they find it uncomfortable or because they don’t like the way it looks – should not expect to get the maximum benefit from this approach to therapy. You must wear braces according to your health-care professional’s orders to achieve the desired goals. If the brace causes problems or if it does not seem to be providing some pain relief, call your doctor.
When to Wear a Brace
Avoid prolonged 24-hour-a-day use of braces because the devices can cause unused joints to weaken. Take them off intermittently to gently exercise the joints, unless you have been instructed to do otherwise. In some cases, a patient may be advised to wear braces continuously.
Importance of Exercise and Weight Control
Keeping fit and reaching and maintaining your proper body weight can help you get the maximum benefits from an osteoarthritis brace.
Gently stretch your muscles and move your joints through their range of motion daily, and before and after gentle aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming or water aerobics. Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program, and start slowly. Physical therapists can design a specific exercise program to improve your posture, flexibility and fitness.
Staying at your recommended weight or losing weight if you are over weight has a number of benefits, including living longer, feeling better and helping to prevent OA of the knees. If you already have osteoarthritis, losing weight – even a small amount – can lessen pain by reducing stress on the hips, knees, back and feet.
The formula for losing weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity, especially activities like swimming and walking. Work with your doctor to find the best weight-loss program for you.
