Will the brace take away my pain?
An effective offloading knee brace should reduce your painful symptoms, but they are not always the final answer to all your knee problems. For OA knee pain, an appropriate brace, weight loss and a prescribed e.g. body strengthening program have been proven to be most effective. The knee brace helps to unload the damaged compartment which should in turn allow for more activity.
The goal is to:
- Reduce pain
- Reduce swelling
- Reducing the intake of pain medication
- Reducing the progression of the damage being done to the knee
- Improve function and mobility
Is the knee brace going to weaken my muscles?
The knee brace unloads the injured site. This allows you to use all your muscles and not restrict activity, therefore it does not weaken the muscles groups in your knee (NB it is depended on what the requirements of the knee brace is). We always recommend seeing a physiotherapist during the rehabilitation process, but this should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
How long will I need to wear the brace for?
This depends on the reason for the brace prescription but in most cases it is an investment in your health as this brace will be worn for long periods of time as they generally are used by patients with osteoarthritis and are worn for extended periods to reduce pain and allow function potentially avoiding or delaying knee surgery/ replacement.
Can I replace the straps should they brake?
All the soft goods on these braces can be replaced and are bought separately should you require replacing them in the future.