Knee Brace

A hinged unloader knee brace is a specially designed knee brace, which is designed to reduce pressure on the painful side of your knee. It also provides stability to your knee through a hinge system. A hinged unloader knee brace reduces body weight from the arthritic part of your knee & reduces stress on the medial & lateral compartments.

In the USA, knee pain cases are rising due to meniscus injuries, osteoarthritis, & cartilage wear.  Over 50 million US adults have been diagnosed with arthritis. 14 million adults are suffering with knee osteoarthritis. In the older adults (50+ of age), the problem of degenerative meniscus tears are very common.

A hinged unloader knee brace has become an ideal non-surgical solution for arthritis and joint pain issues & helps people walk, & work on the routine level without taking costly medications & invasive treatments.

How a Hinged Unloader Knee Brace is Different from Normal Knee Braces?

• A hinged unloader knee brace is designed to reduce pressure on the arthritic part of joints where normal knee braces are made for general compression, mild sprains, swelling, & foundational joint stability.
• A hinged unloader knee brace applies corrective force to realign the joint & unloading stress from the damaged compartment. Normal knee braces are made for providing warmth to the knee but not made for unloading mechanism or realignment.
• Hinged unloader braces have metal hinges on one or double sides & also helps with ligaments support where normal braces are hinge-less and they contain soft side stays.
• Hinged unloader brace is an expert solution for medial/lateral compartment knee arthritis where normal knee braces are not effective against compartmental issues.
• A hinged offloader knee brace is more advanced, durable, adjustable & available at higher price where normal knee braces are available at cheaper prices.

How Does a Hinged Unloader Knee Brace Work?

A hinged unloader knee brace is a medical brace which works on 2 principles -

• Unloading/Offloading function
• Hinged function

The unloading function is liable for reducing body weight away from the infected area of the knee. It reduces stress on both of the outer and inner knee compartments. The adjustable straps & a corrective metal frame work to realign the knee joint.

The hinged function includes metal hinges on one or both sides which controls your knee motion and movement. It helps in MCL, LCL, ACL ligament injuries, post-operative surgeries, & chronic joint instability.

Key Benefits of Using a Hinged Unloader Knee Brace -

There are many key benefits of using a hinged unloader knee brace -

• Provides immediate pain relief during walking, standing or daily movement.
• Prevents side-to-side wobbling with its effective hinged mechanism.
• Reduces inflammation & strain by distributing the weight more evenly.
• Helps in preventing cartilage wear, & joint degeneration.
• Allows you to walk longer without any physical discomfort.
• Lowers the dependence on NSAIDs and other pain medication.
• Delays or even prevents knee replacement surgery in mild to moderate level arthritis.
• Boosts your confidence in daily exercises and climbing stairs.
• Offers the targeted relief unlike the regular knee braces.

How to Choose the Right Hinged Unloader Knee Brace? -

You can always use the following parameters to choose the correct hinged unloader knee brace -

• Identify first which part of your knee is affected with pain or any other kind of arthritis problem. For moderate to severe level arthritis more rigid hinged brace will be required.
• You need to get proper measurement of your thigh & calf correctly because different brands have different size parameters of knee braces.
• Check the adjustable hinges where you can set the needed range of motion.
• Choose the hinged offloader braces which are designed with breathable fabrics or moisture-wicking materials if you need to wear braces for a long period of time.
• You can opt for knee braces with dials & adjustable locks to finetune unloading pressure.
• Always buy the hinged offloader knee braces from reputable brands & manufacturers who work with medical standards.
• Try wearing the knee brace for a short period of time in the beginning. It should not stay with excessive slippage on your knee.
• Higher quality unloading braces may come with the high prices but should be more durable. Before buying any brace, please check the return policies in case if the brace does not fit or work well for you.
• The brace should be cleaned easily & regularly inspect the hinges, straps, and frame periodically before you wear the knee brace.

How to Wear a Hinged Unloader Knee Brace Correctly? -

You can follow the given instructions to wear a hinged unloader knee brace correctly -

• Identify the correct side of your knee based on where your pain is.
• Sit in a comfortable position and make your knee slightly bent to wear your brace easily.
• Place the brace on the leg to align it with the natural joint line of your knee.
• Fasten the straps from lower to upper part for a secure & even hold.
• Adjust the tension system until you feel relaxed but do not apply more unnecessary pressure.
• Ensure the brace has no numbness, tingling, or circulation issues.
• The hinges should move properly with your knee when you walk. The proper alignment is necessary.
• You can wear it over thin clothing or directly on the skin.
• If you need to readjust your knee brace you can do it during the day.
• Don’t over-tighten your knee brace to avoid the problem of skin irritation & swelling.
• Start wearing the knee brace for a short period of time but later you can gradually increase the time.

Conditions That Benefit From a Hinged Unloader Knee Brace -

You can use the hinged unloader knee brace under the following conditions -

• Medial/Lateral compartmental osteoarthritis
• Early or advanced knee arthritis
• Arthritis causing bone-on-bone pressure
• Compartmental meniscus tears
• Degenerative meniscus tears
• Post-meniscus surgery recovery
• MCL, LCL, PCL ligament injuries
• Chondromalacia patella
• General cartilage wear due to aging
• Varus/Valgus knee deformity
• Individuals who stand/walk for long hours
• Heavy-lifting professions causing knee load imbalance
• Gait imbalance due to old injuries
• Knee pain aggravated by walking or standing

Common Mistakes to Avoid the Hinged Unloader Knee Brace -

• Avoid wearing your knee brace too loose to improve its support & preventing load redistributing.
• Also avoid wearing your knee brace too tight, which causes numbness, restricted blood flow.
• Placing the hinge incorrectly for stopping the proper movement & reducing effectiveness.
• Choosing the wrong size of knee brace results in joint instability, slipping or excessive pressure.
• Avoiding the unloader adjustment settings can result in improper offloading of the affected knee compartment.
• Many people don’t follow their doctor’s instructions regarding brace use duration & fitting.
• Skipping regular hinged unloader knee brace cleaning, which can cause skin irritation & inflammation.
• Don’t use a hinged knee brace if you are performing high-intensity activities without medical approval.
• Not supervising the hinges & straps on a regular basis, it can lead to wear-and-tear issues.
• Continuing to use a damaged knee brace can reduce support & may worsen symptoms.

Avoidable Circumstances for Hinged Unloader Knee Brace -

• Avoid using your knee brace without proper diagnosis by a medical professional.
• Don’t wear your knee brace on open wounds, skin infections, irritated skin & inflammated skin.
• Don’t use a hinged unloading knee brace if it causes persistent pain, pinching or numbness.
• Avoid using the knee brace for non-unloader conditions such as ACL tears.
• Avoid wearing the knee brace incorrectly aligned such as hinges placed above or below the line.
• Avoid using the knee brace when straps, hinges, & pads are damaged.
• Avoid wearing the brace while sleeping without medical approval.
• Avoid relying on the knee brace completely and try to mix it with physiotherapy and other strengthening exercises for best results.
• Don’t use the knee brace used by other individuals because the size and adjustability may vary.

Final Thoughts -

A hinged unloader knee brace is not just a supportive device but a biomechanical intervention that supports your knee in any injury or arthritis problem. Offloading can reduce your medial compartmental pressure by up to 25% and also helpful in decreasing the joint compression that causes inflammation, cartilage breakdown, & pain.

Each & every part of the hinged unloader knee brace like - pads, hinges, straps helps you stay aligned to move with confidence. Even small reductions in knee pain can bring improvements in your lifestyle. This is a scientifically-backed tool that empowers you to stay active, & rediscover your knee movement easily.