If you have suffered or are suffering from a knee injury, a medial unloader knee brace can be an effective solution to help alleviate the pain and improve your overall mobility. The knees are among the most sensitive joints in the human body. Old age and a history of injuries can make them vulnerable to pain, fractures, arthritis, and excessive wear and tear. Even if you are suffering from a knee injury, don’t let it bar you from exercising and staying active.
Suppose a knee injury impacts your ability to move and perform daily activities. In that case, you can improve mobility by unloading the medial and lateral pressure off your knees. This can easily be achieved with the help of a medial unloader knee brace. You may be wondering what a medial unloader knee brace is and how they work, or if you are already familiar with them, rather, what the best medial unloader knee brace is to buy. In this article, we will answer all of these questions.
What's a Medial Unloader Knee Brace?
A medial knee brace is a medical device that provides support, pressure, or stability on or around the knee. They help reduce pain, swelling, and instability caused by injuries and other medical conditions in the knee. A proper unloader knee brace can help take the stress off your joints and give you greater mobility and comfort while performing daily activities.
However, not all knee braces are created equal.
Some unloader knee braces support the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), while others support the medial collateral ligament (MCM). Those that provide support to the MCL are known as medial unloader knee braces.
The medial collateral ligament (MCM) connects the upper shin bone to the bottom thigh bone. This band is usually injured by stress on the outer part of the knee. Medial unloader knee braces are designed to offload this pressure, which helps reduce pain and improve mobility.
How Does a Medial Unloader Knee Brace Work?
A medial unloader knee brace works by unloading weight from the affected joint and shifting it onto the brace itself. By strategically shifting your weight, a medial unloader knee brace provides greater mobility, allowing you to perform your work easier and with less pain.
Medial unloader knee braces are designed to assist the patellofemoral compartment of the knee. This compartment connects the patella (knee cup) and the femur and is responsible for the movement of the kneecap. The best medial unloader knee braces stabilize the medial and lateral compartments and assist in the bending and inflection of the knee.
Who Are Medial Unloader Knee Braces for?
Unloader knee braces are ideal for a wide variety of people ranging from athletes who have suffered MCL tears to those suffering from conditions like arthritis. A person may consider a medial unloader knee brace to help with one of the following issues.
- Acute injury to the knee
- Overuse injury to the knee
- Support for osteoarthritis
- Post surgery convalescence
- Medial collateral ligament tears or knee injuries
What Are the Best Medial Unloader Knee Braces?
Now that you know what a medial unloader knee brace is and who should use them, here are the top knee braces you should consider. Below are the best medial unloader knee braces for knee support.
1. The Ascender Unloader Knee Brace by Icarus Medical
The Icarus Medical Ascender Unloader Medial Knee Brace is noted as one of the best knee braces on the market and for a reason.
Firstly, it’s one of the only patellofemoral unloading braces that can unload up to 40 lbs from your knees while only weighing less than 1lb itself. Secondly, while other braces work by stabilizing the lateral and medial tibiofemoral compartments, the Ascender goes the extra mile by assisting with the bending and inflection of the knees.
The true impact of this brace is seen in its ability to offload pressure from the knee. During inflection, the device’s multicompartment offloading technology assists the quadriceps in decompressing and drawing the knee joint apart. In doing so, the Ascender can transfer a huge amount of pressure and stress from the affected area onto the brace frame. This tones down the internal joint pressure, reducing the pain and inflammation while increasing the joint’s strength, stability, and mobility.
Additionally, the knee brace is ultra-lightweight and features a sleek, custom, form-fitting design to maximize comfort and prevent sliding.
The Ascender Pros:
- Sleek design
- Comfortable to use
- Offloads up to 40lbs of weight
- Versatile knee brace – can be used for skiing, climbing, and hiking & more
2. The Unloader One X by Ossur
Unloader One X is a knee brace with properties shown to provide pain relief for people suffering from conditions like osteoarthritis. Aside from pain relief, the Unloader One X also allows users to complete day-to-day activities and stay active efficiently. This medial knee brace features a 3-Point Leverage System that helps unload the pressure from the knee compartment, reducing knee pain.
Additionally, this knee brace features a lightweight design, which is barely noticeable and fits under clothing. Thanks to the color-coded touchpoints and quick-fit buckles, the device is also easy to use. One major drawback of the Ossur Unloader One X is the price, coming in at much higher than similar braces.
In summary:
- Easy to use
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Approved remedy for OA
3. The Defiance by Donjoy
Donjoy knee braces are among the more popular braces on the market, worn by athletes and recreational sportsmen alike. The Defiance is the company’s flagship knee brace. This device features 4-P Leverage System that unloads the pressure from the knee compartment, which reduces ACL strain while increasing mobility and comfort.
Donjoy has designed the Defiance with high-tech materials for increased stability and a low-profile design for a snug fit. As the strongest of Donjoy’s functional braces, the Defiance can work for demanding, high-collision sports. Its lightweight design also makes this brace ideal for daily activities.
For the average person, the Defiance is not a necessary tool, as it is built for a particular type of person in mind that most do not fit into.
In summary:
- Solidly built
- Works for highly active people
Choosing the Right Medial Brace for You
Knee braces provide increased support and stability and reduce pressure on or around the knee. They provide a low-risk option for reducing knee pain and improving mobility for those suffering from knee pain or at risk of injury.
If you’re in the market for a medial unloader knee brace and want the best there is, the Ascender Unloader Knee Brace is an excellent option. The knee brace can unload up to 40 lbs of weight and weighs less than 1 lb, making it a suitable option for many.
If you are interested in learning more, contact a member of our team.
