Conclusions Unloader braces are an economical and effective treatment for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. They can significantly improve a patient's quality of life and potentially delay the need for surgery.

How long should you wear an unloader brace?

In the first week, two hours per day is the recommended length of time. In the second week, you can start to wear your brace for up to four hours per day. By the third week, you can wear your brace for six to eight hours per day, or as needed.

What does an unloader brace do?

An unloader knee brace is a type of knee brace that can be used to provide stability, support, and pain relief caused by knee osteoarthritis that primarily affects only one side of the knee joint. This kind of knee brace is designed to transfer or "unload" pressure from one side of the joint to the other.