Unloader Knee Braces for OA

[rf1942]

Has anyone had any experience with the Ossur Unloader One OTS Osteoarthritis Knee Brace? I was not able to tolerate a rather large and bulky Bledsoe knee brace and this Ossur brace has been recommended to me as being a much lighter and more tolerable brace to wear. Thank you for any help you can provide.

Roland

[lbinaustin]

I am looking for an unloader brace for my right leg (lateral side.) I don't have insurance so I'm hoping to find a used one. What are you not able to do with the Bledsoe?

Anyone out there have a right leg lateral unloader they're not using anymore?

Thanks, Leslie

[nikkiluv]

Roland,

I know your post was like a month ago but I just found it. I have the Ossur Unloader One brace and have had it for about 3 months now. I had a cartilage defect that was the entire surface of my lateral tibial plateau and I was bone on bone. I was planning on having a distal femoral osteotomy and ACI to fix my cartilage defect. I had my ACI biopsy in March and after that my doctor told me to get an unloader brace to help me get through until my DFO and ACI surgery, and because I would need to wear it for several months following my surgery.

Overall, I have to say that I am very happy with the Unloader One. At first I thought I wouldn't like an unloader brace that has the one-hinge design, but turns out I really like it a lot and it definitely works. It is definitely lightweight and it is a very streamlined, pretty thin brace. I am able to wear it underneath my pants, and although my pants aren't plastered to my legs they are a little tighter around the thighs and I can definitely wear it under my pants no problem. It doesn't cause me to sweat uncontrollably either, and it's been decently hot here these past few weeks (80's and humid, I live in New Hampshire). It is pretty comfortable and stays in place really well. Once I put it on I definitely am not spending my day adjusting it because it doesn't slide down (the calf and thigh shell has lightweight pads that have silicone on them so they "stick" to your skin and stay in place). The straps are also made of like a thick suede material and it comes with a bunch of pads so if any of the straps do bother you, you can place the thicker pads where you need them. I also like that it's an open shell design in that the shell is just on the front of my calf and thigh and doesn't wrap around the entire leg.

The guy that fit my brace says they use that brace the most as an unloader and try to fit everyone with that one because it is more lightweatigh and streamlined. If people can't deal with that one (which he's only had a couple that can't) then they have to go to the more bulky, heavier brace. He also said that there's a ton of things they're able to do to it to modify it if something doesn't fit right or a strap is cutting into you, etc.

Overall, I absolutley hate braces, but if I have to wear this one I've found it to be the most tolerable brace that actually works (and I have tried sleeves, wrap-arounds, double hinge braces, etc). Good luck and I hope you find a brace that works for you!

Nikki

[JuhaH]

Nikki, really good answer. I have only 20% medial meniscus left and I have pain all the time. I think I'm going to try next week Össur Unloader One OTS brace for me.

What is the best unloader in the market? What unloader model do you recommend for me?

Thanks in advance.

[mmrocker13]

I used the Rebel Custom, and it was nice...lightweight (carbon), not bulky, and comes in any color you want :-) Were I so inclined, I could run, cycle, swim, ski, whatever in it.

[dm]

I wear an Unloader Select from Ossur. Mine's custom, not off the shelf. I'm a "power user" having been known to wear mine upwards of 12 hrs a day, for medial compartment OA, with 90% medial meniscus gone.

[bd1]

I use a townsend custom ci brace,
It's really lightweight and comfortable to wear it doesn't rub or slip, I find it works really well unloading my lateral compartment,
And the support for my lcl is fantastic.