There are both surgical and non-surgical options available to those suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee.
Surgery is ultimately deemed to be a last resort for many patients, opting for non-surgical solutions in the first instance.
Surgery can cover anything from Arthroscopy, High Tibial Osteotomy to partial or total knee replacement, with the latter offering a life span of up to 15 years.
Unloader One® OA Knee Brace
Clinically proven evidence based bracing for knee Osteoarthritis.
Backed by numerous clinical studies demonstrating its efficacy, Ossur’s Unloader One® is the industry standard for Osteorthritis bracing.
The Unloader One® is clinically proven to ease OA knee pain and reduce the use of medication. It is the market leader on Off-loading bracing in the UK.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a degenerative condition, arising from wear and tear or trauma, which results in the gradual breakdown or damage of cartilage in the knee joint and remains one of the more common sources of knee pain.
The person feels pain as a result of this loss in cartilage, which causes bone on bone contact which can affect them when both moving and resting. This is accompanied by stiffness in the knee joint and limitation in its range of motion.
How the Unloader One® works
The Unloader One® knee brace has been designed decrease the amount of pain felt by the sufferer.
This is achieved by reducing the pressure on the affected side of the knee and reducing the bone on bone contact which is the source of the pain.
In doing this, the wearer can have potentially increased mobility which can also reduce their reliance on any pain medication they may be taking.
By reducing the amount of pain felt, mobility can also be potentially increased, which in turn can help to manage the condition.
Gentle and moderate exercise can work in conjunction with the Unloader One® knee brace to help manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It also serves a tool for delaying surgery with its non-invasive approach that allows wearers to continue with their lives.
Clinically Proven
The Unloader One X features the unique, patented and clinically proven 3-Point Leverage System which generates unicompartmental unloading of the knee joint. In other words the brace works by offloading the pressure from the affected side of the knee to the least affected side (as osteoarthritis will target the entirety of the knee joint). It is this action which reduces bone on bone contact and with it reduces pain levels leading to improved mobility and why it remains the most clinically studied arthritic knee support on the market.
Uses for the Unloader One®
*Moderate to severe single compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA) *Degenerative meniscal tears
*Articular cartilage defect repair
*Meniscal repair
*Avascular necrosis
*Condylar bone marrow lesions
*Tibial plateau fractures
Requirement post operatively will generally be advised by your surgical consultant.
It’s important to note that the Unloader One X should be used as part of your overall treatment pathway including exercise, physiotherapy and lifestyle changes to gain the best possible outcome and delay or even prevent the need for knee surgery.
Professional Prescription and fitting
The Unloader One® is a clinically prescribed knee brace, therefore must be prescribed by a qualified clinician. For more information or to arrange a consultation please contact us.