There a number of benefits for using this brace, among them are that they dramatically reduce bone-on-bone friction, relieve long-term pain and postpone or eliminate the need for surgery. In addition, it reduces your need for medication and can be worn with comfort all day. The brace’s low profile also allows the patient to wear the brace under slacks.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint pain, affecting the knees, hips, back and feet of over 20 million Americans. A joint’s cartilage (the tough, smooth material at the end of bones) wears away over time. When this happens, the edges of the bones rub together, causing the joint to feel stiff and sore.

When cartilage wears away at the knee, the joint becomes “compacted” as the ends of the thigh bone and shin bone rub together. Usually, the compaction occurs on either the inside (medial) part of the leg or outside (lateral); sometimes both sides are compacted.

Braces can help nearly anyone who experiences mild to severe knee OA and are available in a variety of off-the-shelf models or custom fitted designs for any size leg.

The degeneration of knee cartilage makes the lower leg bend either inward or outward, resulting in compaction (bone-on-bone friction). Using 3-point leverage, an OA brace applies gentle pressureto the side of the knee, helping to reduce pain and restore mobility.

No, but it may help postpone it. A good OA knee brace will help relieve the pain, but it will not repair the damaged joint. In mild to moderate cases, using a brace may allow you to postpone surgery and prolong the intervals between knee replacements. Keep in mind that artificial knees usually last only 10 to 15 years before they need replacement.

No, but it may help postpone it. A good OA knee brace will help relieve the pain, but it will not repair the damaged joint. In mild to moderate cases, using a brace may allow you to postpone surgery and prolong the intervals between knee replacements. Keep in mind that artificial knees usually last only 10 to 15 years before they need replacement.

In most cases, yes. Patients who use a brace usually have been able to reduce dependence on pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Some anti-inflammatory drugs may cause serious side affects or allergic reactions. Consult your doctor before changing any prescribed medication regimen.

Yes. Some doctors inject drugs such as corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid directly into the joint for short term relief. However, these treatments can be very expensive, the length of relief varies greatly from patient to patient and many people report no reduction of pain. If injections are chosen, an OA brace may enhance and prolong the effects.

Doctors may prescribe Bone Growth Therapy, commonly known as bone growth stimulation, for patients who are experiencing bone healing complications or exhibit risk factors that can impede healing. If you are concerned that your fracture or spinal fusion is not healing or if you have reason to believe that you have a risk factor that will make it difficult for you to heal, it is important to speak with your doctor, who can diagnose your condition and prescribe treatment.

Physicians may prescribe a bone growth therapy device when a patient has poor bone healing. Common bone healing risk factors include:

• Smoking/tobacco use.
• Diabetes.
• Obesity.
• Multilevel fusions.
• Medication that depletes bone.
• Spondylolisthesis (Grade 2+).
• Allograft (bone graft) use.

The healing process itself determines the duration of the treatment, and your physician will closely monitor your progress. Your individual risk factors (such as smoking, multi-level fusion, and graft type) and your compliance in wearing the device will factor into the duration of your treatment. To promote your healing, it is very important that you wear the bone growth therapy device daily as prescribed. Your doctor may require that you bring your unit in on your follow-up visits to check your compliance. Most patients wear the device between three and nine months.