One of the most common parts of the body beset with arthritis are the knee joints, and the use of arthritis knee braces is an age old technique for reducing the agonizing pain that is associated with arthritis. Arthritis knee braces help reduce the pressure from the leg and knee, eventually aligning the leg in the right position to reduce arthritis pain.

Arthritis knee braces can be classified into 2 broad types - custom made and off the shelf. "Off-the-shelf" involves choosing the appropriate knee braces from a ready-to-wear assortment, whereas "custom made" refers to requesting a brace design based on precise condition and targeting your unique knee requirements. Evidently, custom-made knee braces are more costly than the off the shelf ones. On the other hand, a custom-made brace is substantially better, as it is custom-designed to fit your specific needs. Along with knee braces, your choice of footwear is also crucial to manage your body pressure on your knees. The kind of shoes you wear can either increase or reduce your pain.

In addition to these 2 broad categories, knee braces can also be grouped into 4 distinct types.

An off-loader arthritis knee brace, otherwise known as an unloader, is normally used to improve knee alignment. Off-loader knee braces support the knee by lessening the varus (valgus) stress from the knees, or the abnormal mechanical alignment on one side of the knee.

Prophylactic arthritis knee braces, meanwhile, are used typically by individuals who suffer from knee injuries, such as sports injuries.

On the other hand, rehabilitative braces are recommended to repair medial and lateral mobility. These braces likewise improve the flexion and extension of the joints of the knee following knee injuries or surgeries.

OA braces, as their name suggests, are used particularly by those suffering from Osteoarthritis (OA). These knee braces alleviate pain by promoting proper alignment.

Generally speaking, arthritis knee braces are a low-cost and reliable way of managing joint pain of the knees. They have been established to work in most cases. Nevertheless, there is still some concern about their efficiency.

Some medical experts insist that such braces are merely a temporary treatment to an enduring condition, and more often than not delay the possibility of surgical knee replacements. The temporary support of knee braces can incapacitate the knee and leg muscles, which may eventually cause permanent weakness and further cause the condition to deteriorate.

However, numerous patients swear that regular use of arthritis knee braces effectively work in promoting proper alignment, restraining your body weight on the knee, and even significantly relieving pain.

Of course, the end results of brace use are based on the merits of each case and must not be hastily generalized. One's overall health, body constitution, as well as the severity of arthritis, among a number of other factors, may affect the results of knee brace use.

In deciding on the appropriate arthritis knee braces for your own use, always consider your own unique requirements. The particular type of knee brace for you is dependent on the gravity of your pain or the state of your condition. The more severe the pain, the larger the knee braces you need. Off the shelf knee braces are equally as reliable as custom-made braces, unless you have a distinctive pain or area to address or a rather irregular knee shape.

It is always imperative that you seek the advice of a doctor first to identify the right knee brace type for your condition. Always consult a qualified doctor before deciding on any type of treatment, be it medicinal drugs or alternate therapies or knee braces.