How Do Braces Work?
In general, braces can work in a number of ways. They may be used to decrease pain; provide assistance, rest and support to unstable joints; ease symptoms of nerve compression, such as numbness and tingling; position joints correctly to prevent deformity; and protect joints from further destruction.
To better understand how bracing works in osteoarthritis, let us consider someone with osteoarthritis of the knee. A person with knee OA may have varus (bowing) or valgus (knock-knee) deformity, depending on which side of the knee has lost the most cartilage. Knee OA most often affects the medial (inside) compartment of the joint.
One way to reduce the symptoms of medial compartmental knee OA is to use orthotic devices, such as lateral shoe wedges. The wedges change the foot’s alignment, which helps to shift the load to the lateral (outside) compartment of the knee. This repositioning can reduces arthritis-related symptoms for those with mild to moderate medial compartmental knee OA.
External knee bracing is another way to treat this common form of knee OA. Knee braces are designed to stabilize the knee, redirect the body’s weight away from the affected compartment of the knee joint and to help correct leg alignment. The goal is to reduce knee pain, to protect the joint and to try to slow the process of joint degeneration.
