When you have knee osteoarthritis, the space between the bones in your knee becomes narrower as you lose cartilage. As your condition worsens, and without the protective layer of cartilage, the bones begin to come in direct contact with one another. The result – pain, inflammation, and reduced function of the knee. One solution to resolve these symptoms is to wear an off-loading knee brace. The function of these braces is to increase the space between the bones of the knee and to off-load the bone on bone contact. The outcome – decreased pain, decreased inflammation, and increased function of the knee. Talk to your doctor to see if an off-loading knee brace is right for you.