What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is an overarching term used to refer to approximately 100 types of joint pain and joint diseases. This could be caused either through a hereditary or auto-immune disease or because of certain attributes such as age, weight, and other physiological factors.
Assistive devices, such as braces, can aid certain forms of arthritis and promote your joints resting in position helping to reduce inflammation.
Types of Knee Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and is commonly defined as degenerative, meaning it happens over time through progressive degeneration. OA occurs when damage or breakdown of joint cartilage occurs between bones which can then cause pain, swelling, stiffness, less joint flexibility, and reduced mobility. Managing osteoarthritis requires the ongoing maintenance of overall physical health and a consideration of how much the knee is at risk when elements of age, weight and pre-disposition intersect.
Exercises focused on muscles strengthening (weights, resistance bands) will take some pressure off sore joints, strengthen bones, and improve balance. Similarly, flexibility training through yoga and muscles stretches can improve overall joint and muscles movement. A mix of other management techniques and therapies could also be considered and discussed with appropriate physicians.
Recommended knee Osteoarthritis braces:
GenuTrain A3 Knee Brace (Mild OA)
Ideal for more moderate and less specific arthritic pain, the GenuTrain A3 relies on two modes of pain management:
- A gentle medical compression that stabilises the muscles and boosts blood flow.
- An anatomic gel pad that actively massages each of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the medial part of the knee, relieving pain and swelling 24/7.
GenuTrain OA (Moderate to severe OA)
The GenuTrain OA provides immediate and lasting relief for moderate to severe arthritis, even in chronic cases. It unloads the medial or lateral compartment to create instant relief by minimising joint contact.
SecuTec OA (Severe OA)
Providing instant and active relief from arthritis in one or both sides of the knee, it can unload the joint, targeting exactly where you need relief (namely where chronic or severe arthritis pain is present).
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease (occurring when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks their own body) that can cause inflammation and degradation in the knee joint. It namely affects the lining of the joint and can cause swelling and bone erosion/deformity and can even progress and spread to other joints in the body. Whilst there is no definitive reasoning for why rheumatoid arthritis occurs, it is said that when genetic components interact with certain environmental factors (such as infection), it then causes the formation of the disease.
As of right now, there is no cure for RA. The ‘Treat to Target’ treatment philosophy (used by rheumatologists) has resulted in fewer symptoms and higher remission rates. The treatment involves a mixture of switching medication if no new or good outcomes occur, testing and performing monthly monitoring of the RA, and testing goals specific to a low disease rate through dietary changes and specific exercises and remedies. Bracing and supports can help alleviate knee pain, and it is important the correct brace is selected based on the level of support required.
Recommended Rheumatoid Arthritis braces:
GenuTrain S Hinged Knee Support
Used to promote arthritis of knee, rheumatoid arthritis, and bone on bone arthritis, the adjustable straps allow for control of the amount of pressure, for a better fit and just the right amount of support (even for younger suffers of arthritis).
GenuTrain S Pro Hinged Knee Support
The GenuTrain S Pro Hinged Knee Support uses a breathable compression weave to promote blood-flow and speed up healing, while the anatomic hinges and adjustable straps allow for completely controlled stability to relieve even the toughest symptoms of arthritic pain, specifically rheumatoid arthritis. This brace allows for flexion and extension limitations of the knee.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Originally defined as JRA, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, JIA’s definition has now expanded to account for all joint conditions that affect children and young adults under the age of 16. Typically, a child must have inflammation in one or more joint lasting at lease five-six weeks and, have all other similar conditions ruled out, before they can be diagnosed with JIA.
Similarly to RA, JIA is an auto-immune disease meaning early detection is key to aiding pain management and remission rates. Finding out which type of JIA (and in which joint) the child suffers from is the first step. From there, figuring out how active the condition is, and whether it is flaring, is integral to creating a management plan and reducing the progression of the illness.
Recommended braces for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
GenuTrain S Hinged Knee Support
Pseudogout/Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystal Deposition Disease (CPPD)
Some symptoms of CPPD may falsely appear to be symptoms of gout, RA or OA, hence the name pseudogout. CPPD is a form of arthritis that occurs when calcium pyrophosphate crystals (found in the cartilage) trigger a painful swelling sensation in one or more joints. Whilst CPPD itself cannot be cured or dissolved, some of the underlying causes are treatable. without appropriate treatment, joints may degenerate, resulting in long-term disability.
Improving the joints' stability and longevity relies on a combination of medicines and joint drainage. A variety of medications exist to reduce inflammation, both over-the-counter and prescription alternatives. For CCPD, joint drainage is a form of pain relief that requires a doctor to insert a needle, which removes some of the joint fluid and subsequent pressure and some of the crystals as well. Common lifestyle changes, such as cold packs and resting the knee joint, may aid pain management and promote rehabilitation of the area.
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis caused as a direct response to an infection in the body, most often within the intestines, genitals, or urinary tract. It usually resolves on its own after a short period of time, but pain management and treatment techniques remain.
Reactive arthritis may take the form of pain and swelling of the knee joint, accompanied by other biological factors relating to the gastrointestinal tract or genitals. Acute inflammation in the initial stages of diagnosis can be treated with more moderate approaches, i.e., through the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with the more chronic later stages of reactive arthritis requiring more advanced treatment with disease-modifying drugs.
Recommended braces for Reactive Arthritis:
GenuTrain A3 Knee Brace
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is mainly experienced by those who suffer from psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes skin cells to build up and outwardly appear as rash-like, red patches. This is due to the body's immune system mistakenly thinking it's under attack by healthy cells and tissue. In turn, the immune system responds by creating new skin cells quickly, which stack on top of each other, forming ‘buildup’.
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease often mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis. It can cause stiffness, inflammatory pain, and swelling in the ligaments and tendons of the knee, accompanied by fatigue and difficulty walking. However, it is possible to slow the progress of the condition through a treatment plan and the use of pain prevention products, from acupuncture to anti-inflammatory drugs.
Recommended Psoriatic Arthritis brace
GenuTrain Knee Brace
Appropriate for general knee pain, the GenuTrain provides perfectly targeted compression at the right areas for effective pain relief and anatomically contoured, high elasticity knitted fabric support to promote fluid and effective movement.
