A single copy of this article may be reprinted for personal,
noncommercial use only. Knee braces for osteoarthritisBy Mayo
Clinic staff Original Article:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/knee-braces/MY00137 A knee
brace is a device worn around your knee to help you stay on your
feet in spite of knee osteoarthritis. Knee braces come in a
variety of designs, but most are constructed with a combination
of rigid and flexible materials — plastic or metal for basic
structure and support, and synthetic rubber or moldable foam for
padding and positioning. The knee braces used in osteoarthritis
are "unloading" braces. You wear an unloading knee brace to
counter the faulty knee mechanics that lead to joint damage.
Ideally, your knee should be aligned, so that the force of your
weight falls evenly on the inner (medial) and outer (lateral)
joint compartments. In reality, though, most people's knees fall
short of the ideal. Instead, one or both knees rotate slightly
inward, placing extra stress on one side of the joint —