What Is Knee Osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis is the result of cartilage in the knee joint withering away to expose the bone to other bones. Healthy knees should have cartilage that serves as a cushion between the joints. OA reduces this space, often creating bone spurs that cause pain as bones begin to rub against other bones. OA is typically categorized by 4 stages, with 0 being a healthy, normal knee showing no signs of damage up to stage 4 being characterized by complete or near complete destruction of the space in the knee joint. This often results in severe pain and can lead to an inability to move the knee.

Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis generally include the following:

• Joint pain and tenderness
• Cracking or “creaking” in your joints
• Deformity of the joints
• Limited motion in the joint
• Stiffness after knee inactivity lasting up to an hour

Are there any drug-free or non-surgical treatment options for knee OA?

At VQ OrthoCare, our goal is to ease your knee and joint pain and prevent you from reaching stage 4 or easing your stage 4 knee pain where possible. Doctors often recommend prescription knee braces as a way to manage arthritis knee pain treatment at home and allow people to return to their day-to-day activities. There are several options for those wanting a natural approach to relieving knee pain, especially since the side effects of surgeries and medications used to treat OA can appear daunting and can deter people in pain from seeking treatment. In comparison, there are virtually no side effects to using knee braces, and users get the added benefit of reduced pain. The Arthritis Foundation often cites the usefulness of knee braces in reducing pain and allowing people to perform daily activities, increasing the quality of living as people return to activities such as walking and going downstairs.

When will I see results?

For those with moderate to severe osteoarthritis, knee pain relief brace benefits depend on the severity of your condition. Knee braces work by reducing the stress and weight applied to affected joints. While many people do experience immediate relief from OA after using braces, other users may not see results for several weeks. It is important to keep wearing the brace in the first few weeks, even if the amount of pain is not significantly reduced because it can take up to a few weeks for braces to ease joint inflammation. Following doctor recommendations for knee OA relief tips specific to your condition, such as losing weight or performing specific stretches, can also increase the effectiveness of the brace.

How do knee braces work for osteoarthritis pain?

Braces work by re-distributing pressure in the knees from the affected area to the healthier side of the joint, creating a sense of relief when walking. VQ OrthoCare braces use the latest breakthrough technology as a simple way to manage osteoarthritis pain. This brings comfort to the affected area while providing the ultimate relief to improve your mobility and give you an independent life. It is important to note that, as helpful as braces are, there is not yet a cure or a way to reverse osteoarthritis. However, many users do experience significant pain relief while wearing braces.