Valgus bracing for degenerative knee osteoarthritis: relieving pain, improving gait, and increasing activity.

Pain from osteoarthritis, the leading cause of disability in older patients, affects gait mechanics. Wearing an unloading brace may improve gait symmetry, decrease symptomatic pain, and increase activity for patients who have osteoarthritis of the knee or other varus knee deformities. Brace use may contribute to improved knee proprioception, gait parameters, and pain scores. Clinicians can recommend a trial of brace wear for patients who have knee pain as a conservative measure or to provide temporary pain relief before joint replacement surgery.